Fatal accident nets $500 fine
Erica Hazzard says she’s heartbroken, disappointed and disgusted that the driver who hit her grandfather in an Adams Township parking lot — ultimately causing his death in 2014 — will face only a $500 fine.
“A fine of $500? That is telling the citizens of the state of Pennsylvania that your life is only worth a small fine,” said Hazzard, granddaughter to 80-year-old William Kvindis of Adams Township. “It tells the family of the victim, my family, the life that was stolen from you was only worth $500.”
According to police, defendant John George Turcic, 64, of Adams Township on Dec. 10 was cutting through the parking lot in the Adams Shoppes to refill a prescription at a nearby Giant Eagle.
Turcic, who told police he became momentarily distracted by a piece of mail on his passenger’s seat, hit Kvindis with his vehicle.
Kvindis had been walking with his girlfriend to a hair salon. He died at a Pittsburgh hospital of head injuries, according to an autopsy.
According to court documents, Turcic admitted to drinking a “fair-sized” glass of vodka before driving. He also had taken the antidepressant Zoloft earlier in the day.
Turcic, who initially faced a felony charge of homicide by vehicle while drunken driving, last week in Butler County Court pleaded guilty to only a summary count of careless driving.
Prosecutors dropped all other charges.
Turcic’s attorney Patrick Livingston could not be reached for comment. However, in previous court hearings he argued that his client was not drunk at the time of the accident. Court records say Turcic’s blood alcohol level was 0.05 percent. The legal limit is 0.08 percent for drivers to be considered intoxicated in Pennsylvania.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said he realizes his office’s decision to make this plea offer won’t be popular, but “it’s what justice required.”
Goldinger said the charges were initially filed on information the police had at that time. But as the investigation continued, it could not be proven that Turcic was drunk at the time of the crash. And, Goldinger said, the amount of prescription medications in the defendant’s system was within standard therapeutic levels.
“It was a hard decision and a very unfortunate incident,” Goldinger said. “He (Turcic) is responsible. But we couldn’t prove that most serious charge.”
Hazzard, who lives in California, said if that is the law in Pennsylvania, it’s time to change it.
“In California, it’s a $1,000 fine for littering. That tells me my grandfather’s life was worth less than litter,” Hazzard said, noting that in addition to receiving no jail time, the defendant issued no apologies. “He hit and killed a pedestrian. It’s huge to say you can kill someone and it doesn’t mean anything. There’s no justice here.”
Hazzard described her grandfather as a gentle, giving man, who was well-known in the community and especially adored by workers at stores he frequented.
“I have been grieving for the past two years mourning my grandfather, the type of man who loved everyone and would give whatever he had to anyone in need,” Hazzard said. “His gentleness and endless love of life was something very special that I only wish more people could have known, though so many did.
“The pain is not going to fade knowing a true angel on Earth was taken from us.”
