The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Emotions run high at teen’s sentencing
Driver avoids jail time for Northside crash that killed baby, two adults.
After a day of emotionally wrenching testimony from grieving friends and family members, a teen driver pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of second-degree vehicular homicide and was sentenced to probation, fines and other conditions in a 2017 crash that left two women and a baby dead.
Zoe Reardon, who turns 19 on Tuesday, was sentenced to 36 months on probation and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service and safe driver training. She must pay about $4,000 in fines that she can reduce if she donates to a foundation that works to combat distracted driving. Her license will be suspended for between 12 and 36 months.
“I regret this is the first time you’ve ever heard from me,” she told the loved ones of Kaitlin Hunt, her 3-month-old Riley Hunt and their family friend Kathy Deming, who died from their injuries after Reardon’s Jeep struck them in downtown Woodstock. “I’ve often wanted to reach out. I can’t imagine how much pain you’re experiencing. For all your heartbreak and loss, I am truly sorry.”
Cherokee County State Court Judge Alan Jordan granted first offender status, meaning Reardon’s criminal record will essentially be erased after she completes the terms of her sentence.
The fresh-start legal action can only be used once, Jordan warned.
“You’re pretty young,” he told Reardon during sentencing. “You’ve got a lifetime ahead of you. I expect this is something you’re going to have a hard time dealing with the rest of your life.”
He offered condolences to the family: “I want you to know the entire community grieves with you. I sincerely hope you folks can start to find closure.”
The family issued a statement after proceedings ended: “What happened is a tragedy on multiple levels, and there is no outcome that will make our family whole again Court actions cannot heal us — we must continue to heal ourselves.”
The plea hearing lasted for much of the day and included heartbreaking tributes and video slideshows. Hunt’s sister, Lauren White of Louisiana, expecting her first child and due this week, sent a statement: “My sister taught me everything, except how to live without her. The family chain is broken now, and nothing seems the same.”
Kaitlin Hunt, a metro Atlanta native married to her high school sweetheart, would have turned 30 on Wednesday. She and Brandon Hunt had been living in Florida where she was in the U.S. Coast Guard and her husband worked in law enforcement. Kaitlin, the baby and their pets came up to Woodstock to escape Hurricane Irma as it approached the Florida coast in September 2017.
“I remember getting the frantic call from Kaitlin’s mother and Brandon saying, ‘I sent them there to be safe,’” said Brandon Hunt’s mother, Mary White. “That will forever ring in my ears.”
Reardon, now a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Texas, will be allowed to check in remotely during her probation period and is encouraged
‘We have to live with this for the rest of our lives. You don’t.’
Mike Deming Husband of victim Kathy Deming, to Zoe Reardon
to complete at least some of her community service with the Casey Feldman Foundation, which combats distracted driving. Investigators determined Reardon was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was not speeding. She has told authorities she never saw the pedestrians, who were wearing dark clothing. Walking to a concert in downtown Woodstock, they were crossing an area of the road that, at the time, had no traffic lights, marked pedestrian crossing or other safety measures. The collision happened after the sun had set.
Several witnesses directed remarks to Reardon directly. While none of them believes she intentionally caused the tragic deaths, they said they don’t sense true remorse and are angry Reardon never offered a direct apology or message of sympathy in the 18 months since the collision.
“A simple phone call would have made a world of difference,” said John Deming, one of Kathy Deming’s sons.
“It was probably on the advice of counsel that you didn’t reach out,” said her husband, Mike Deming. “I’m a lawyer. I get that.”
Still, he said, granting Reardon first-offender status felt like an insult. Riley died the night of the incident. Deming died 10 days later. Kaitlin Hunt was taken off life support a few days after the crash, surgeons having taken measures to follow her wishes as an organ donor. The family will soon meet one of the recipients, said Kathy Vandiver, Kaitlin’s mother.
Reading aloud a letter to her daughter, she said, “I can’t wait to hear your heart beat again.”