Monica DeMello, an 18 year old Freshman at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday, March 30th. The other driver, Kathleen Allen, 23, was driving a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck with one other passenger, as yet unidentified. Ms. Allen has been arrested and is expected to be arraigned on motor vehicle homicide charges.
The accident occurred at approximately 2:09am on Saturday morning on Route 44 in Lakeville, Massachusetts. DeMello was a popular psychology major at Gordon. Many well-wishers have come forward to post tributes on Facebook to her and offer condolences to her family and friends. She leaves behind a mother, father, and sister. DeMello was the lone occupant of her 204 Hyundai Accent. It was found overturned on the highway. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
Allen is scheduled to be arraigned in Wareham District Court for charges including motor vehicle homicide, drunken driving with negligence, drunken driving with serious injury and negligence, drunken driving, driving to endanger, and marked lanes violations. Her passenger was flown by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Unfortunately, it's a sad fact that many people still choose to drink and drive, despite the tolls it takes on innocent lives. It's a cruel twist of fate that so many drunk drivers remain unharmed in the accidents they cause, while their victims end up injured or worse, dead.
Filing a wrongful death action is available to the family, should they choose to go that route. While money will never replace their beloved daughter and sister, sometimes the justice that filing suit can bring is enough to make people take that course of action. Finding the right attorney is key. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a motor vehicle accident, contact our office today for a free consultation.