Family of woman killed in crash still seeking answers

[larrymeyer]

( 5 to 10 years ??? Lets see her father is a member of the IRA and may be deported, Her brother shoot and killed a classmate while drinking and hosting an underage party and only got 2 years. Bet she's mad that her brother only got 2 years for killing his victim and she is getting more because she is supposedly an adult. 10 years she'll be out at 30 and have a life)

Our justice system at work


Family of woman killed in crash still seeking answers
Published: Friday, November 13, 2009


NORRISTOWN — As they grieve for the mother who loved visiting family, traveling and decorating at the holidays, Jay and Jeff Waggoner painfully try to come to grips with the tenuousness of life.

Tragedy forced the Waggoners to question what cruel twist of fate placed their mother, Patricia, in the path of a drunken driver on the Blue Route in Plymouth at 12:55 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008. Patricia, 63, of Massachusetts, was on her way to Media to attend an upcoming grandparents’ luncheon and a sixth birthday celebration for Jay’s two daughters, ages 7 and 4.

“How different would life be if I had called 10 minutes earlier or later or if I told her to come down the next day instead,” Jay tearfully pondered in court on Thursday, telling a judge he is trying to cope with guilt, confusion and anger stemming from his mother’s death.

“The guilt I feel comes from being the last person to talk to her alive,” said Jay, who had encouraged his mother to come to Media for a visit. “The confusion comes from trying to understand the sequence of events that had to occur for such a terrible and senseless act to happen. Anger comes for the irresponsible and foolish acts of the other driver. Anger comes from trying to explain all this to my daughters.”

Prosecutors said Roisin O’Neill, 24, driving the wrong way on the highway, nearly struck several other drivers before she plowed into Patricia’s car. O’Neill, of Newtown Square, was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison in connection with Patricia’s death.

Jeff, of Atlanta, said he’s “thought through the incident a thousand times.”

“That mom could be on a stretch of highway for three minutes out of her entire life and it end so tragically,” Jeff said in a statement read in court by his wife, Regina. “What if she had stopped to go to the bathroom or got stopped at a traffic light? What if she had to run back inside the house to get something? She would still be here today enjoying her grandkids, family, friends and planning that next trip.”

Jeff, the father of two sons ages 10 and 13, said his mother loved to travel and he recalled happier times vacationing together at the beach and theme parks.

“She would visit us for Halloween and Christmas. She loved decorating the house. Those holidays will never be the same without her,” Jeff wrote.

Jeff said the hearts of his sons were broken by the death of their “Nana.” Courtroom spectators wept as they listened to his heartfelt words.

“Mom was a fantastic grandmother. She interacted with them on their level. She was creative, funny, brilliant and full of life,” said Jeff, recalling the heartrending words of his son who wished for a machine “like in the movies that could bring Nana back to life.”

Jay said his family misses his mother’s “laugh, storytelling, boundless creativity, misguided political views and her guidance.” The brothers described a vital woman who enjoyed hiking, kayaking and flying with her grandchildren.

“She was such an active and vibrant person that I thought she would live forever,” Jay said, his voice trailing with emotion. “I wasn’t prepared for her to suddenly be ripped from our lives in such a horrendous fashion. There were too many events I wanted to share with her, too many questions I wanted to ask her and too many things I wanted to say to her.”

[CG1492]

I don't think the drunk driving penalties are harsh enough, my brother had 3 dui's and he still doesn't take it seriously.

[ByAnyMeans]

Originally Posted by CG1492

I don't think the drunk driving penalties are harsh enough, my brother had 3 dui's and he still doesn't take it seriously.

I have to agree. Often you hear of people having been in DWI accidents and it not being their first time. Having been a bar bouncer for a few years in a few palces I know many people with DWI's who laugh it off and some who tell me it's just part of drinking. I drink sometimes to the point where I should not drive and you know what. I don't, not very hard with some pre-planning.

[cgbudde]

Originally Posted by CG1492

I don't think the drunk driving penalties are harsh enough, my brother had 3 dui's and he still doesn't take it seriously.

Agree. My neighbor has been caught many times, but because of who his father was in town, he has been getting away with it. I think they are waiting until he kills someone.

[CG1492]

Originally Posted by cgbudde

I think they are waiting until he kills someone.

The sad part is that this seems to be the attitude taken by everyone. In his aa meetings he had people in class who had upwards of double digits for dui's. How the fuck are they not in prision let alone still driving.

[larrymeyer]

After the first DUI offense any other should be treated as attempted murder if your behind the wheel and a permanent loss of driven privilege

[308man]

DUI laws have also changed greatly you see jail time second offense now unless you spend some big money.

[CG1492]

Originally Posted by 308man

DUI laws have also changed greatly you see jail time second offense now unless you spend some big money.

A lawyer can keep u out of jail, my bro got 24 hrs drunk tank and that was all he saw a jail on his 2nd offense, and I don;t think he even got the drunk tank on the 3rd offense.

[Brick]

DUI in New York State is a felony charge as is (IIRC) driving 25 MPH over the speed limit.

If the police & DAs are willing to do thier part it might get the message across.

[RandomTask]

Originally Posted by Brick

...(IIRC) driving 25 MPH over the speed limit (in NY is a felony).

At least wasn't a felony when I got nailed for 86 in a 55 back in 1988.