A Pennsylvania Woman Who Furnished Alcohol to Minors Who Later Had Fatal Car Accident Is Charged by Police
It never ceases to amaze me why people do the things they do. As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney since 1979, I have handled many cases where people have been catastrophically injured or killed by the actions of a drunk driver. Recently a 22-year-old Chester County woman was charged by police for furnishing alcohol to minors who were involved in a fatal car crash several hours later according to Pennsylvania State Police. The defendant, Jessica Lynn Copeland, of Honeybrook, Pennsylvania, faces misdemeanor charges including furnishing alcohol to minors and corruption of minors.
The 16-year-old driver of the vehicle, Monte Wood, was shown to be under the influence of alcohol when he crushed a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution on July 16th. Wood and his front seat passenger, Britany Leger, 15, were killed and two other 15-year-old passengers, Damien Paterno and Cameron Merlino, were injured. The night before the crash Copeland took Wood and Ledger to a local wine and spirits store and to a beer store where she purchased alcohol for them. According to police, the four juveniles left with the alcohol, went to a wooded area where they consumed it, and then took a high-powered sports car out for a middle of the night spin. None of the teenagers were licensed drivers.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragic car accident. As the father of a 16-year-old teenager and new driver, this is the nightmare that I and most other parents worry about. Someone dies in America in an alcohol-related accident every 30 minutes and yet each one of these tragic deaths is preventable. In Pennsylvania, individuals who are harmed or killed as the result of the actions of a drunk driver may file lawsuits against those indirectly responsible, as well as against the intoxicated driver. The intoxicated driver who causes a catastrophic accident, as well as a business, personal establishment, or social host that gave alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or minor is legally responsible for any damage that that person may cause.
The Pennsylvania Dram Shop and alcohol-related injury lawyers of the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff & Bily have fought long and hard against drunk driving and resulting catastrophic injuries and fatalities since 1979. If you have been in a car accident caused by the negligence or criminal activity of another related to alcohol usage, please contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania Dram Shop and alcohol-related accident lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
