Outrage over sickening 'off to prison party' for drink driver
A bar has cancelled an event for a 52-year-old woman heading to prison after she injured two teens in a drink-driving crash.
Samantha Harvey, from Fairfield in the US state of Ohio, pleaded guilty for driving a vehicle under the influence of marijuana and alcohol on May 6 last year, Journal-News reported.
She was also convicted of two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and two counts of vehicular assault after she crashed leaving 16-year-old Savannah Schlueter, who was driving, and Caila Nagel, 17, seriously injured.
Savannah suffered two collapsed lungs, multiple broken ribs, a lacerated kidney, spinal fractures, torn rotator cuffs and a traumatic brain injury while her passenger suffered serious injuries and still uses a wheelchair, Fox 19 reported.
Caila spent 100 days in hospital including two months in a medically-induced coma, according to WLWT5.
While Harvey is yet to be sentenced, friends decided to hold a get-together for her at Ricky’s Tavern and Grilled titled: “Sending Samantha off to prison party".
Savannah’s mum Candy told Fox 19 she saw a Facebook event for Harvey’s prison send-off and was repulsed.
“My heart kind of sunk, because I felt like these were two young teenage lives, and you’re taking this so lightly,” Ms Schlueter told Fox 19.
“Having this party, almost in celebration of the accident, and... It really just broke my heart, because I just feel like this is nothing to joke about. Both of those girls could’ve died.”
However, the bar realised about the planned event and stepped in to cancel it.
“We do not condone this behaviour,” the bar wrote on Facebook.
“Our hearts go out to all that have been affected by this tragedy. This event has been cancelled.”
The bar also clarified it was not involved with the accident.
“However, we are currently looking into options for holding a fundraiser to benefit those involved. Please keep these girls and their families in your hearts and in your prayers,” it wrote.
Long road to recovery for Savannah and Caila
Both girls face a long road to recovery.
Savannah told WKRC she was suffering memory problems.
“That's an issue right now, and emotionally – struggling still,” she said.
The teenager added it had been hard seeing Caila in a wheelchair.
“I hate seeing her like that. I hate seeing her down and hurt and that I'm not like that, I guess you could say,” she said.
Caila remains in a wheelchair with hours of physical therapy ahead.
According to a GoFundMe page, Caila is currently learning how to walk again and how to speak.
Her mum, Michelle, wrote in the most recent update on February 8, Caila is memorising words and beginning to walk up stairs with the assistance of a physical therapist.
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