Outside the home of 32-year-old Michael Leininger, people have left cards and flowers in his memory. While he was disabled, his friends say he lived life to the fullest.
Bob Godwin says even though his friend Michael Leininger had cerebal palsy and used a wheel chair, it never let him down. “He had a social life, friends, and cooked out a lot.”
However it all came to an end Saturday night. “He was killed last night by a drunk driver.” 48-year-old Thomas PItt was charged with DUI manslaughter and property damage.
Police say as Leininger crossed SR 50 and Key Largo Drive, Pitt hit him with his car. Investigators tell us, that Pitt had the green light, but Leininger was using the crosswalk.
Godwin’s fiancee Debbie Champagne also uses a wheel chair and was distraught over the death of her friend Michael. She says it’s scary trying to cross SR 50 and has a reminder for drivers especially as they get ready to celebrate the New Year; “Please don’t drink and drive and when you do, look out for the other people. The people in wheel chairs, the people on motorcycles.”
Godwin says it’s too late for their friend Michael. “Unfortunately Mike won’t be having a new year and he was looking forward to it.”
If Pitt is convicted of DUI manslaughter, he could face up to 15 years in prison. FHP troopers say, even if a driver has the green light, they must yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
1 response so far ↓
1 Joe // Dec 30, 2009 at 2:40 pm
So sad. All it takes is a split second and then someone is gone forever.
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