May 15, 2009 11:00 pm US/Eastern
N.J. Couple Fights To Honor Son's Memory
SOUTHAMPTON TWP., N.J. (CBS 3) ―
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Anthony Farrace, 17, was killed in a car accident in 2007. His parents are now fighting to honor his memory.
CBS
A New Jersey couple is fighting to honor the memory of their son who was killed in a terrible car crash. Claudia and John Farrace told CBS3 they are now turning their grief into action.
Fighting back tears, Claudia said her heart still aches when she thinks about her son, Anthony.
"He was just a gentle giant. He was big, but always gave people the benefit of the doubt," said Claudia.
Anthony was just 17-years-old when he was killed on the morning of July 6, 2007 in Southampton Township. A roadside memorial still marks the spot where Anthony's life came to a crashing end.
According to police, Anthony was riding in the passenger seat when his friend somehow lost control of her car and crashed into a tree. The driver survived and received a ticket for $200 and her license was suspended for six months.
"They want to chalk this up to inexperience," said John. "There's a right and wrong thing to do and inexperience does not come into effect, at all."
The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office released a statement which read in part:
"When our office reviewed the totality of the circumstances, we were unable to establish the essential elements necessary under the law to move forward with a prosecution of the driver."
The Ferraces now want to change the law and they have Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D., Gloucester) and Nelson Albano (D., Cumberland) on their side.
The lawmakers introduced a bill requiring all drivers in a fatal accident to be tested for drugs and alcohol. Anthony's friend was not tested at the scene.
Under the current state law, police must have evidence or reasonable suspicion that a driver is under the influence to test for drugs or alcohol.
"We know what we lost and every situation is different," said Claudia. "We're not doing this because we're grieving; we're doing this so nobody else has to be in this situation again."
For now, the Farraces do not know when the bill will be heard by lawmakers, but they said when that time comes, they hope that lawmakers will be courageous enough to do the right thing.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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