Deaths spur outrage, grief

June

Anger and sorrow are pouring forth from readers in response to the deaths of a Brewster second-grader and her mother, allegedly at the hands of a drunk driver.
Kayla Donohue and her mother were struck and killed as they walked to dance class at Seven Stars School of Performing Arts at the intersection of routes 6 and 22. Police have arrested a 35-year-old man and charged him with first-degree vehicular manslaughter. Federal authorities have filed a detainer against the man as a suspected illegal immigrant.
Always a hot-button issues, the allegation that the driver was drunk has readers sounding off about what they see as lax enforcement of the laws and lenient sentences for those who are convicted of the crime.

I am disgusted and angered by all the DWI in Putnam. Look at the police blotter! This is out of control and now we have lost a mother and a little girl. My condolences to the family. My heart breaks at the senseless loss.

Many are advocating for zero-tolerance for drunk driving and harsh punishments, such as this reader, who wrote,

The driver should be locked up and never see the light of day!

Many are going online to post condolences for the family of the little girl and mother.

God bless the little girl and her mom. God strengthen their family,

one person wrote. Another added:

My heart goes out to the family. Words cannot even approach helping them at this time. To the Donohue Family please know that many of us, though strangers, are here for you in this horrible time.

Many readers are also upset that the man arrested may be an illegal immigrant, a controversial topic in Brewster, which has a large population of day laborers and undocumented residents.

If the murderer turns out to be an illegal alien, every politician who trades our security for votes has blood on his hands,

one person said. Another added:

I have absolutely zero tolerance for drunks, let alone someone who is not in this country legally.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 at 11:08 am by Tracey Princiotta. | Email This Post

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