A Roadside Memorial

By Drew Scott

  A small white cross with the picture of a beautiful 14-year old girl sits on the side of the road on Woodside Avenue and County Road 101 in Medford.

  It's a memorial to Angelica Nappi. She was killed by a driver police say ran a red light. Cops say 37-year old Stephen Catalano was operating his vehicle with multiple suspensions and a revocation of his license in both New York and Florida. 

  There were prayers and tears today, one year after the tragic crash. There were also demands for a change in the state vehicle law to make it a felony to operate a car with a revoked or suspended license while involved in a serious injury accident.

  I interviewed the mother of the victim, Angelica. Her name is Dawn Nappi. She says a parent should not have to bury a child. She also called for a toughening of the laws involving cases like her daughter.

  "There are far too many of these cases," said Assemblyman Robert Sweeney of Lindenhurst, who is presenting the bill in the Albany Legislature.

  Special interests have killed the bill on two previous legislative sessions, but Sweeney thinks it will pass this year.

 

                        

Comments

[Ms. Walker]

This is a tragic story. Why do we hear so much about people getting hit by cars on Long Island? Why do we hear so much about drunk drivers like the one that killed that limo driver and took off the head of that little girl on Long Island? Driving is a privelege but like many other things in this country we have found ways to continue to be spoiled and if we can not get what we want we find a way around it. I can not fathom why the US states do not have one central computer for people like this? Revoked license in one state should stand for every state to begin with and no registrations in your name! If someone lets this guy drive their car they are also criminally negligent.

[John]

Personally, I don't like the idea of the law. I agree that something needs to be done, but this reeks of politics as usual and elevates paperwork (the license) over the lives of people involved in an incident.

I'd much rather see it be straightforward responsibility. If I stab someone with a knife, it doesn't matter if I'm drunk or have paperwork that says I'm allowed to have the knife. It's assault with a deadly weapon, probably attempted murder, and maybe criminal negligence.

Driving a car should be no different. Bickering about a lapsed license turns the case into almost a breach of contract case, which should offend anybody who's lost someone to a drunk driver.