Parents Of Woman Killed By Repeat DUI Offender Fight For 'Deana's Law' In Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, PA — The parents of a woman who was struck and killed by a repeat DUI offender two years ago are fighting in Harrisburg for tougher penalties for those who drive under the influence.

Rich and Rosann DeRosa, of Delaware County, traveled to the state capitol on Sept. 21 to address the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee about Senate Bill 773, also known as Deana’s Law. The bill is named in honor of the couple’s 45-year-old daughter, Deana Eckman, who was killed by an impaired driver who had five prior DUI arrests before he took the woman’s life.

The bill’s prime sponsor is Sen. Bob Mensch, R-24, who represents Lansdale Borough and other nearby communities.

Rich DeRosa addressed what he says is a major flaw in the state’s DUI laws – concurrent sentencing for repeat offenders as opposed to consecutive sentencing.

“Commit multiple crimes within a reasonable timeframe, you get a free pass for one of them,” was how he summed up the current sentencing structure. “Concurrent sentencing is an absolute insult to law abiding citizens. There’s no logic that can ever be presented to make concurrent sentencing acceptable to me. Deana’s Law would mandate consecutive sentencing for the worst DUI offenders.”

The man who killed his daughter, Rich DeRosa said, was on parole for his fifth DUI at the time of the accident, and he was driving on a suspended license. The man ultimately pleaded guilty to third degree murder, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, and a host of other felonies, and he was subsequently sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison, according to Mensch’s office.

Still, the senator said more could be done to prevent tragedies like this from befalling other families.

“This is a very serious issue, and it’s one that we need to take seriously as a legislature,” Mensch told his colleagues on the Senate Transportation Committee.

The DeRosa’s expressed frustration at the fact that the bill has been languishing. They cannot understand why it didn’t get passed during the previous legislative session because lawmakers were arguing over seemingly minor issues and seemed more worried about the rights of the drunk driver than those of the victims, Roseann DeRosa said.

“As a mother, I cannot fathom how Deana’s Law has not been passed,” Roseann DeRosa testified. “Everything has been done to water down and hinder this bill from passing.”

Roseann DeRosa told the legislative panel that if they lost loved ones under such circumstances, they would likely move the bill along faster.

“The criminal justice system failed us on so many levels,” she said. “Tragically, Deana paid the ultimate price.”

Prior to the couple’s testimony, State Sen. John Kane, a Democrat from Delaware County who counts the DeRosa’s among his constituency, said he supports Deana’s Law and would work to help get it passed.

“I want to let you know that I am one hundred percent happy to support this bill and I will advocate and champion it myself,” Kane said at the hearing.

Sen. Tim Kearney, another Democrat from Delaware County, welcomed the DeRosa’s to Harrisburg, and also thanked them for sharing their story.

“We admire your courage and your fortitude to fight for safety for other families,” Kearney said. “We all deserve to be driving safely on our roads and be able to see our loved ones.”

Deana Eckman’s husband, Chris, survived the February 2019 crash albeit with serious injuries, according to Mensch’s office.

Mensch said he sponsored the bill because, “Five prior DUIs does no one any good when we allow that kind of driver to remain on the road to continue to threaten other peoples’ lives.”

Mensch also thanked the DeRosa’s for testifying in favor of Deana’s Law.

“Theirs is a very sad tale but they’re willing to share it with all of us,” Mensch told his fellow legislators. “I think it [the bill] is very, very much needed.”

Among the changes to existing statute under Deana’s Law would be an increased grading for certain DUI offenders, ensure that consecutive sentences are imposed on certain repeat DUI offenders, and require substance monitoring program evaluations for repeat DUI offenders as a condition of probation, parole or bail, according to Mensch’s office.