Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
HIGHWAY DEDICATED IN TROOPER’S MEMORY
A portion of Pennsylvania Route 41 was designated the Trooper Kenton Iwaniec Memorial Highway
AVONDALE » A memorial was unveiled Monday in honor of fallen Trooper Kenton Iwaniec, who “lived to serve and protect our community.”
A portion of Pennsylvania Route 41 (Gap Newport Pike), between state Route 926 (Street Road) and U.S. Route 1, in London Grove and Londonderry townships, was designated the Trooper Kenton Iwaniec Memorial Highway at a ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Police Troop J Avondale Barracks. Iwaniec served there until he was killed by a drunk driver on March 28, 2008. Iwaniec finished his shift and two miles away from the station, an impaired driver crossed the centerline and struck Iwaniec’s vehicle headon. He was flown to Christiana hospital where he later died.
Cpl. Steven Ranck, who supervised Iwaniec, described him as a caring individual. His friends nicknamed “the shepherd” because he always helped others and acted as the designated driver. His mother, Debbie Iwaniec, said the night be-
fore the funeral, she asked God why He took Kenton this way and prayed for direction that would honor Kenton. The Iwaniec family, through the Trooper Kenton Iwaniec Memorial Foundation, has donated more than 1,500 portable breath-testing (PBTs) devices for law enforcement.
State Police Major Maurice Tomlinson, formerly a supervisor at Avondale, said the efforts by the Iwaniec family to deter impaired driving have benefited Chester County residents.
“When they suffered their loss, they made a commitment to try to spare any other family from going through what they have gone through,” Tomlinson said.
He presented the Iwaniecs with a letter of commendation for speaking at Operation Nighthawk, an initiative where state and municipal police listen to speakers before conducting roving patrols, searching to get drunk drivers off the roads. Debbie and her husband Ken shared Kenton’s story. State and municipal police made 114 DUI arrests countywide that weekend in May.
“I can’t possibly imagine how difficult it must be for you to continually relive this tragedy,” Tomlinson said. “I can only hope that everyone you touch with your inspirational story truly comprehends the gravity and complexity of your self-sacrifice.
“They have turned their tragedy into an inspiration,” Tomlinson said.
Ken and Debbie Iwaniec are members of Pennsylvania Parents Against Impaired Drivers (PAPAID), along with Downingtown residents, Paul and Maggie Hannagan. Tomlinson also presented a letter to the Hannagans for their efforts to advocate for tougher DUI laws following the loss of both of their children, Miles and Charlotte Hannagan, to a drunk driver. Other parents from PAPAID were in attendance.
State Sen. John Rafferty said state troopers know they will face daily dangers on the job and Kenton “gave his life as a hero.” He said in honor of Kenton, the Demko family of Lancaster County, and others in PAPAID, they are working on Senate Bill 961 to create a felony conviction for those with multiple drunk driving offenses and for those who kill an individual while driving under the influence.
State Sens. Rafferty, R-44, of Collegeville, Andrew Dinniman, D-19, of West Whiteland, and Kim
Ward, R-39, of Hempfield, were instrumental in introducing a bill for the memorial for Kenton. This June the Legislature unanimously passed and the governor signed into law Act 61 of 2018.
Dinniman said families like the Iwaniec have endured pain by speaking about their loss to save lives and continue Kenton’s legacy to protect others. Ken Iwaniec said his son loved being around people and serving them. Lt. Michelle Swantner said Kenton “lived to serve and protect our community.”
Patrick Carmody, who successfully prosecuted the case before becoming a judge, said Kenton impacted people in life, and in his death. Carmody heard Ken and Debbie speak to first-time DUI offenders about their son, their loss, and the consequences of impaired driving. To date, they have spoken to more than 60,000 people at various engagements.
“You took the baton of hope that Kenton carried in his life and passed it on these people,” Carmody said. “I can’t say how many lives you saved.”
State Rep. John Lawrence, R-13, of West Grove, said parents who have lost a child hope that their memory will not be forgotten, and this sign shows Kenton is remembered.
“Every time someone drives by this … it will be a sign that we have not forgotten,” Lawrence said. “But we remember this trooper who gave everything for people of this area, for people of this Commonwealth.”