Double amputee says hit-and-run driver destroyed her dreams
By Karen Florin, The Day, New London, Conn. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Laribee rolled up to the court bench in a wheelchair to address Judge
"I was an independent 20-year-old woman who had my own apartment and future plans to become a police officer," she said. "My dreams were destroyed that night when I became a double, above-the-knee amputee."
Rivera was driving home from
Though Rivera admitted she had been drinking while gambling at Foxwoods, police did not arrest her for more than three hours after the incident and did not charge her with driving under the influence.
Rivera, who came to court with family members and wore gray sweatclothes in anticipation of her imprisonment, stood with her attorney,
At Laribee's request, the two women had met in prosecutor
"I wanted to have a sit down meeting with her," Laribee said. "I wanted to see her on my own. She was crying and said she has to live with this every day. I said, 'How do you think I feel?' "
Laribee, once a competitive hip hop dancer, has prosthetic devices but says it is painful to use them. She works at
"I don't want people's help," she said. "I want to do it on my own."
Laribbee has bad days like everyone else, but is remarkably strong and cheerful, according to her friend and co-worker,
"She gets up every morning," Garrity said. "She gets dressed. She puts her makeup on."
Rivera's car insurance policy had lapsed for non-payment, so she was uninsured when the crash occurred. Laribee said she is infuriated that there is no system in place in
"Her failure to call 911 or provide any assistance to me whatsoever after hearing my cries for help as I lay broken and mangled on the side of the road shows me that she lacks a substantial amount of personal responsibility," Laribee said in her statement to the court.
Following the
Rivera told the police she thought she had struck an animal but could not remember the accident and had left the scene because she wanted to go home. She said she didn't drink often and that even small amounts of alcohol affect her.
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