Wrong-Way Drunken Driver Who Killed Ossining Mom Gets Prison

YORKTOWN, NY — A wrong-way driver will be serving time in prison for causing a head-on crash that killed an Ossining woman.

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said Mark Cope, 41, of Yorktown was sentenced Friday to three to nine years in state prison in the death of Shina McClam, 32, of Ossining.

Cope pleaded guilty to the following:

• Three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, felonies
• Second-degree manslaughter, felony
• Aggravated vehicular assault, felony
• Second-degree vehicular assault, felony
• Third-degree assault, a misdemeanor
• Aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor
• Two counts of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor
• Reckless driving, a misdemeanor

Rocah said her office had recommended the court impose a term of six to 18 years in state prison.

In a victim impact statement made to the court, McClam's niece described her aunt as loving, fun, flamboyant and the glue of the family.

To Cope, she said, "I don't know what you were thinking that night. What you thought was going to happen after you got into your car … You made a choice out of pleasure and fun. You destroyed a family beyond recognition."

McClam died at the scene, police said. Her 6-year-old daughter and 18-year-old niece were passengers and were taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla where they were treated for their injuries.

Rocah said Cope's selfish decision to drive while drunk resulted in the needless death of a mother and put the lives of two young passengers at great risk.

"Our hearts are with the surviving victims, their families and the entire Ossining community," she said, "which united to take care of the McClam family after this senseless tragedy."