It’s time to push Deana’s Law over finish line

The push to create Deana’s Law increasing the penalties for multiple drunk driving offenses has been intensifying and is gaining momentum.

In Harrisburg, House Bill 773 named for Deana DeRosa Eckman passed the House Nov. 17 with a broad, bi-partisan majority. The bill will substantially increase penalties for those who have multiple DUI convictions and target offenders who repeatedly drive drunk. It will also require consecutive sentences for a fourth or subsequent DUI conviction.

Attention now turns to the Senate where a companion bill awaits a vote. State Sen. Bob Mensch, R-24th Dist., is the primary sponsor, and he said he expects passage before the current session ends this month. The Senate returns to a voting session on December 13.

Here in the Philadelphia region, many are lobbying for the passage of Deana’s Law. Deana

Eckman was killed by Chester County resident David Strowhouer in a drunk-driving crash as she and her husband, Chris, were returning home from a family gathering Feb. 16, 2019. Chris Eckman was also injured in the crash.

Strowhouer’s blood-alcohol level was 0.199 and he had traces of cocaine, diazepam and marijuana in his system at the time. He later pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and related offenses, for which he received a sentence of 25½ to 50 years in state prison. Strowhouer was back in court Nov. 22 after an appeal overturned the sentence; he was resentenced to 24 to 51 years.

Eckman’s parents, Rich and Roseann DeRosa, have been outspoken about increased penalties for repeat drunk drivers, citing Strowhouer’s history of DUIs and concurrent rather than consecutive sentences on his fourth and fifth offenses.

Roseann DeRosa testified at the Senate Transportation Committee hearing earlier this year on Mensch’s proposal. “This bill targets the worst repeat DUI offenders — the offenders who drive on our roadways constantly drunk until they ultimately kill an innocent person,” she said.

“The grief me and my husband carry every day is torture and never ending. …Losing a child is the most heart-wrenching, chest-crushing, breathstealing tragedy on earth. My life will never be the same because nothing in this world will ever fill the space that belonged to only her.”

“Remember that your families and loved ones share the road with irresponsible DUI drivers,” Rich DeRosa said. “Don’t think for a minute that this tragedy couldn’t happen to your family. I used to think that, now there’s an empty chair at my table and a hole in my heart.”

The DeRosas worked with former Delaware County state Sen. Tom Killion to pass a bill in the last session, but it was defeated largely due to an amendment that carved out marijuana “used lawfully” under the state’s Medical Marijuana Act from definitions for a “controlled substance.”

The new pair of bills introduced in March by Mensch and state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168th Dist, addresses the earlier objections. With the passage of Quinn’s bill, Mensch last week told MediaNews Group he is optimistic for swift Senate passage as well.

“Deana Eckman’s death has brought unbearable pain to her husband, parents, siblings, other family members and friends. Hoping to save lives and spare other families the heartbreak they are suffering, determined to change laws that have permitted a revolving door system for the most serious DUI offenders in Pennsylvania,” Mensch wrote in an email response to questions. “The legislation has already passed in the House, and I am optimistic it will pass in the Senate before the end of the session.”

Mensch’s optimism is a positive sign that these proposals —and this family’ s heart break inspired battle—will provide a means to keep the most dangerous repeat offenders off the road. We urge swift Senate action to push Deana’s Law over the finish line and create some good out of the tragedy that took Deana Eckman’s life.