Brother of victim Lindsay Thomas says family will never forgive Stephanie Campbell for acting like nothing had happened after crash (video).
Stephanie Campbell listens to Deon Thomas, the brother of the friend she killed during a DWI crash last July, during her sentencing Monday in Onondaga County Court. Lindsay A. Thomas of Nedrow was killed July 5 when the car Campbell was driving slammed into a bridge abutment on Interstate 81.Syracuse, NY - Stephanie L. Campbell stood crying in court this morning as the brother of a friend she killed in a fiery, drunken-driving crash said the victim's family would never forgive her.
Deon Thomas admitted that it is terrible to live a life of sadness and hate. But his family could not overlook the fact Campbell had spent the past year acting like nothing had happened, he said.
"We will never forgive you for that," Thomas said.
Thomas himself struggled to maintain his composure as he addressed state Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti for Campbell's sentencing in the death of his sister. Lindsay A. Thomas, 29, of Nedrow, was killed July 5 when the car Campbell was driving north on Interstate 81 slammed into a bridge abutment at the Interstate 481 interchange on the city's South Side.
In pleading guilty March 8 to first-degree vehicular manslaughter in Thomas' death, Campbell admitted having a blood-alcohol count of 0.18 at the time of the crash.
Campbell, 25, of 313 Route 11A, was sentenced by Brunetti today to serve two to six years in state prison as part of a plea deal struck in the case.
"I'm sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen," a tearful Campbell said as she turned to look at members of the Thomas family in court.
Moments earlier, the victim's brother stood several yards away as he somberly told the court how his family had been devastated by the loss of his sister. The victim was the mother of three young children, he said, adding it was very difficult telling those children their mother was never coming home again.
Deon Thomas told Brunetti two years in prison was not enough punishment for Campbell. He then turned his attention to Campbell, telling her he hoped she would think about what she had done when she hears the cell doors slamming shut behind her.
He also said he hoped Campbell would remember the horrible injuries his sister suffered. He said his sister was burned over 60 percent of her body and had part of her head smashed in.
Authorities said a road crew working in the area managed to pulled Campbell from the burning car after it ignited in the crash. But the rescuers were unable to get Thomas out of the vehicle.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bednarski today said again he believed Thomas had died upon impact.
Bednarski also read to Brunetti in court today an emotional letter from Lindsay Thomas' best friend, Heather Watson.
Watson wrote about how they had become friends as little girls only to stay together as they had daughters of their own. They were each a significant part of the other's life, she wrote.
But that all changed last July 5, Watson noted.
In a bizarre twist of fate, Watson wrote that she was headed to a relatives home that day and drove past the scene of the crash. It was obvious it had been a fatal crash, she noted.
It wasn't until later that day that a friend sent her a text message identifying the victim as Lindsay Thomas, Watson wrote.
She described collapsing in tears in her mother's arms, thinking it had to be a cruel joke. It became a nightmare for which she sheds tears every day, she added.
Watson wrote of meeting again with her friend in the spiritual world. But she said she still wishes she had one last opportunity to hug her friend and tell her how much she loves her.
Campbell stood crying quietly as Bednarski read the Watson letter in court before Deon Thomas addressed the judge.
After court, defense lawyer Randi Bianco said her client's tears and remorse were genuine. She also pointed out that Campbell suffered burns and multiple fractures in the crash as well.
Her sentencing had been delayed when Campbell recently gave birth to a child prematurely.
Both Bianco and Bednarski said they were unaware of any signs Campbell had given over the past year that she didn't care about what had happened.
But the prosecutor said he could only take Campbell's word for the sincerity of her remorse.
"I hope it is. We'll never know for sure," Bednarski said.