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Parade Suspect Pleads Guilty

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Staunton, Va.
Posted: 5:49 PM May 16, 2008
Last Updated: 8:15 AM May 17, 2008
Reporter: Meg Gatto
Email Address: mgatto@whsv.com

4 comments

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A Staunton woman charged with running over a family with her car before the Staunton Christmas parade last year pleaded guilty in court Friday. Police say Donna Young was driving with her headlights off and she was not wearing her seat belt.

When she was stopped and asked if she had been drinking, police say she stepped on the gas and headed toward the crowd, hitting a Verona woman and her two grandchildren.

Friday, Young pleaded guilty to three counts of leaving the scene of an accident and one count of eluding police and endangerment. She also faces DUI charges, which will be addressed in another court at a later date.

When asked if she had anything to say to the victims of the accident, Young tearfully answered, "I'm so sorry."

A date for her sentencing hasn't been set.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 17, 2008 at 09:46 PM
throw the book at her. yhank god no one was killed. but the trauma alone does enough damage for a life time. i know because we lost our young niece to a drunk driver,god can only help her now.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 18, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Young's not sorry for what she did-she's sorry she got caught and is going to do time (hopefully-she deserves it.) Sorry doesn't cut it. It was a violent crime, she knew better than to drink and drive! I don't feel sorry for her one bit!

Posted by: RBloom0566 Location: Weyers Cave on May 17, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Like saying you're sorry gets you off the hook. It means nothing in the greater scheme of the events.

Posted by: Nikki Location: Verona on May 17, 2008 at 03:00 PM
I am the mother of the childreen ran down by the drunk at the christmas parade.It was the most terrifiying thing for a mother to ever have happen i just am glad god was with us that night.My daughter is now 4 and has nightmares regularly.When this woman seen us at court for the first time she gave me the worst look and said to me WHAT ARE YOU LOOOKING AT.She has no remorse I could have lost my kids and my mom.I actually thought she was going to die after hearing the sound of her being hit and seeing her fall while holding my daughter.I had my hands on the stroller and it was riped from my hands and thrown in the air.She may have said she was sorry but it was all for show.She could careless about what she did.If the justice system works like it should for real criminals they will put her somewhere she can get some help and learn compassion for others.And get the Phyic evaluation she needs cause trust me she needs one when she has no regard for another humans life. Exspecially a child...

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