This was the day DeAnna DeRosa, her family and friends had been waiting for.
And dreading.
It was the day they would see justice finally delivered in the senseless death of their beloved daughter and friend to so many.
Deana Eckman and her husband, Chris, were returning home from a family function when they encountered the poster boy for stronger DUI laws.
David Strowhouer, who had racked up five previous DUI charges, was heading south on Route 452. He went around a car in his way, into the northbound lanes, and slammed directly into the Eckmans' car.
Deana was killed instantly. Her husband was seriously injured.
One of the things the DeRosa family had to come to grips with was why Strowhouer was on the street at all. After his fifth DUI charge, in Delaware County, a judge had allowed his sentence to be served concurrently with two previous DUI charges in Chester County.
That allowed him to be eligible for parole, back on the street, and inexplicably able to climb behind the wheel again while impaired.
Yesterday Strowhouer was back before that very same Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mary Alice Brennan.
This time there was no leniency. Brennan exceeded the sentence recommended by the district attorney. She ordered Strowhouer jailed for 25 to 51 years. He will serve at least 25 years.
The DeRosas, Eckmans and others talked about what they have lost.
They are using Deana's tragic death to fight for tougher DUI laws.
Let's hope they are successful, so another family will not have to endure the agony they suffered since that day last February.
You can get all the details here.
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