Drunk who Fled Scene of Fatal Accident Gets Slap on the Wrist
LOCKPORT, NY: Earlier this week, County Court Judge John Ottaviano sentenced David P. Draper, 59, of Niagara Falls, to two to six years in State Prison on his conviction of Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Incident Without Reporting.
Draper admitted to striking and killing 61 year old Barry C. Tierney who was riding his bike on Lewiston Road in Lewiston last September 11th. Draper proceeding home without stopping or reporting the incident.
“The evidence in the case showed that the defendant had been drinking and that was the reason he did not stop and call police,” said Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman. “Because he didn’t stop, we will never know what his blood alcohol content was. The law, however, makes leaving the scene of a fatality the same level offense as a Vehicular Manslaughter, because nobody should be able to obtain a benefit from fleeing the scene.”
The case was investigated by the Lewiston Police Department and prosecuted by Niagara County DA’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief Christine Savoia.
