|
12/31/2008 6:00:00 PM
No. 6 - Richard Hill saga
The Daily News
On Aug. 17, Todd Kirtley, 43, of Stanton was driving his 10-year-old daughter from Cedar Springs to Stanton when they were hit by a drunken driver.
According to the Kent County Sheriff's Department in Grand Rapids, April Kirtley died after the northbound Dodge Neon she was riding in collided with a pickup truck just before 11 p.m. on Lincoln Lake Road between 16 Mile and 17 Mile roads in Spencer Township near Gowen.
Kent County deputies said Richard Hill, 40, of Greenville was drunk and driving the wrong way in the northbound lane at the time of impact.
Todd Kirtley, who was driving the Neon, was flown by AeroMed to the Spectrum Health System's Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids where he was later released.
The sheriff's department said Hill smelled of alcohol as rescue workers treated him. Deputies found several empty beer cans around his pickup truck at the scene.
Hill was taken to Butterworth where he was treated and released. After being released from the hospital he was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury during an arraignment in 63rd District Court on Aug. 19.
Teresa Campbell, 55, and her husband, David, witnessed the tragedy unfold in their front yard on Lincoln Lake Road. They called 911 within seconds of the impact and stayed with the accident victims until emergency crews arrived on the scene.
"I definitely feel that this man (Hill) has no right to be out on the road driving," Campbell said with emotion. "I am very, very happy that the judge took his license away and that the judge decided to do random testing so this man has no clue when he's going to be tested." On Dec. 17, Hill appeared before Kent County Circuit Court Judge George Buth in Grand Rapids, where he was sentenced to from eight to 15 years in prison for driving while intoxicated third offense, causing Kirtley's death.
Campbell said she wasn't able to attend the sentencing but believed that Hill's punishment was far too light.
"Not even the maximum would have been justification," Campbell said, anger still in her voice. "Hopefully he'll wake up and come around." She said the pain inflicted on the Kirtley family and friends will never be eased but she hoped some good would come from the tragedy.
"Everyone all the way around, in both families, suffered," Campbell said.
"We've got to stop making so light of these DUI's (driving under the influences). This was his third time but who knows how many times he did it without being caught? How many other lives could he have possibly almost taken?" She said she hoped Hill would end up spending the entire 15 years in prison.
"Todd could possibly be crippled for the rest of his life," she said. "I want to see Mr. Hill get the max." According to WZZM-TV 13 News in Grand Rapids, Hill spoke remorsefully while making a statement to the court. He said he is also a father and couldn't imagine the kind of grief he had caused the Kirtley family.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
