Another innocent life taken

3/28/2011 UPDATE:

Leah Graeber has been declared "not mentally competent for trial." The prosecution is trying to get her civilly committed to the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter. More details in this Pioneer Press article.

12/7/2010 UPDATE:

The Pioneer Press is reporting that Graeber was traveling at speeds of up to 86 MPH. "A criminal complaint charges Graeber with criminal vehicular homicide by gross negligence, causing bodily harm by operating a vehicle and possession of cocaine. Authorities say a blood test showed Graeber was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash."

The Star Tribune is reporting that Graeber hit 100 MPH just before impact. "Troopers found an open container of beer, two pipes with residue and a plastic tube in Graeber's vehicle. Tests on those items revealed trace amounts of cocaine and THC, the active ingredient in marijuana." "A blood test revealed that Graeber was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash."

Last night I found out about a car accident less than 2 miles from my house. A car had crossed the median into oncoming traffic. Someone was dead.

My heart sank and I just hoped (selfishly, I suppose) that I didn't know anyone involved. I know that area well and it's a wide median. There's no reason for anyone in their right mind to be crossing it.

As it turns out, the driver wasn't in her right mind.

The driver who crossed into oncoming traffic on a Burnsville highway, killing an 11-year-old boy in an oncoming SUV, was drinking, the State Patrol said Monday.

Shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, 27-year-old Leah Graeber was driving her car south on Hwy. 13, when she crossed the median, vaulted into northbound traffic and struck an SUV, the patrol said. Graeber's car then struck another passenger vehicle.

Graeber, of Savage, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and is expected to survive, according to the patrol.

An open alcohol container and drug paraphernalia were found in Graeber's car, said Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske.

The boy who died was identified by his hockey coach Monday as Joel (Joey) Balistreri, of Burnsville. Coach Steve Wedan said Joey attended St. John the Baptist School.

His father, Geoffrey Balistreri, 43, was driving. His mother, Pamela Balistreri, 38, and sister Megan also were in the vehicle. All three suffered non-life threatening injuries, the patrol said.

The driver of the second vehicle struck was uninjured.

I guess the fact that it happened so close to where I live and the fact that the kid whose life was just taken happens to have the same unusual birth name/nickname combo as I have made this even more meaningful to me than other similar accidents.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: we need stiffer drunk driving penalties!!

I don't just mean instances where someone dies. I mean huge, life-changing penalties the first time someone is caught driving under the influence.

There's just no excuse for this.