Thread: NY-Police: Drunk illegal drove into mom, girl

Police: Drunk illegal drove into mom, girl
By Michael Risinit • mrisinit@lohud.com • June 10, 2009

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BREWSTER - The man who police say was driving drunk when he struck and killed a mother and her daughter Monday was in the U.S. illegally and didn't have a driver's license.





State police revealed those facts yesterday about Zacaria Conses-Garcia, who was charged with first-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony, and driving while intoxicated in the deaths of Lori Donohue, 37, and Kayla Donohue, 8.



Family, friends and others in the community struggled to understand the accident that took the lives of a mother and her second-grader and has left many in the community grieving, and outraged because of the driver's illegal status. The victims were hit as they walked next to the Seven Stars School of Performing Arts on routes 6 and 22 near the village's Main Street. Kayla took classes at the studio and was dancing during the final hour of her young life.



John Luhrs, Lori Donohue's brother, stopped yesterday at the crash site with another brother, Brian.



"Trying to be strong for Bob, his son, and help them get through it," Luhrs of Bethel, Conn., said, referring to Lori's husband and 5-year-old son, Christopher. "They're a good family. A lot of love."



He said the little girl had been taking dance lessons for years and was excited about a recital planned for Brewster High School on June 20. The performance will now be dedicated in Kayla's memory.



Helena Serafin, who lives at the opposite end of the Donohues' cul-de-sac, said she can hardly believe the mother and daughter are gone. Serafin said her two children, ages 10 and 12, often played with Kayla and Christopher Donohue.



"They were great people. (The children) liked to run, ride or bicycle, play on the trampoline," she said. "They were happy and healthy kids. They all liked to play together."



The family was together Sunday during a service at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Southeast. The Rev. Kathleen Koran, Trinity Lutheran's pastor, recalled Lori and Kayla Donohue smiling and laughing together at a church party that day.



"They are a treasured family in our church. I hope their faith will keep them strong," Koran said. "They are a loving family. Everyone who knew them was blessed by knowing them. They were a happy family and great with one another. It is a great tragedy (and this isn't) supposed to happen."



Police said Conses-Garcia drove a white Ford F350 pickup into the mother and daughter as they left the performing arts school. Putnam County Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher York said a charge of first-degree vehicular manslaughter results from causing the death of two individuals.



The pickup truck then crashed into the dance school's building. It's unclear who owns the truck with Florida license plates, though some motor vehicle records indicate it's a Hertz vehicle rented in Casselberry, Fla.



The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement department has filed a detainer against the suspect. Lt. Dominick Chiumento of the state police said the actions of the 35-year-old Guatemalan were being investigated up until when the accident occurred. Police said he worked at farms in Florida and North Salem.



On Main Street, a group of Hispanic men were discussing the tragedy. Edgar Mejia said the accident left him wondering how the girl's father could cope. He thought of his own daughter, who also takes dance lessons.



"There's no way to express it," he said. "I don't think I'd be able to live."



As a Guatemalan, Mejia, among others, worried that the entire Hispanic population would be blamed for the tragedy.



"We don't want people like that," he said of Conses-Garcia.



Kayla Donohue was pronounced dead at the scene about 6:45 p.m. Monday, Brewster fire officials said. Lori Donohue was taken by Brewster ambulance to Putnam Hospital Center and then by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where she later died to her injuries, police said yesterday.


By yesterday morning, mourners had started to construct a memorial at the corner of the building where the little girl and her mother were struck. Red roses in a coffee cup, a bouquet of white flowers, a small stuffed animal and lit votive candles were some of the items placed there. Written messages were being left on a large piece of paper.



Kayla was a second-grader at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Southeast. The owners of Brewster Hill Deli on Route 312 across from the school campus said various Donohue family members would come into the store almost daily.



"She loved American (Girl) dolls," said Lisa Gabrielli, 36, a deli co-owner. "Our dad just passed away two months ago and they were great to us. They supported us. They would always talk about the doll. When she saw me at school she would wave. She is a sweet girl."



Brewster Schools Superintendent Jane Sandbank said the district had convened its crisis team.



"Our hearts and prayers are with the Donohue family," Sandbank said.



Seven Stars canceled all regular classes yesterday, and a candlelight vigil was held last night outside the performing arts school that hundreds of Brewster students have gone to over the years.



"We're just opening it up to anybody that wanted to come and talk," said Donna Aravena, the school's owner, earlier in the day.



Conses-Garcia was arraigned early yesterday morning by Southeast Town Justice Gregory Folchetti. He was being held in the Putnam County jail with bail set at $150,000.



No further court date was available yesterday. York said he expected to present the matter to a grand jury.



http://www.lohud.com/article/20090610/N ... 7/-1/RSS01

Ilelgals are ALL criminals; they are only separated by level of criminality.


This is a terrible and un-necessary tragedy, I am so sorry for the suffering of the Mom and her daughter and the family and friends they left behind.

I pray that the family will sue the illegals advocate politicians as accomplices in the murder of the Mom and her daughter, if the politicians had enforced our laws and protected all Americans this never would have happened.

77,000 Americans killed by illegals since 9/11 and counting..........

Move to new section for Americans killed by illegals.