At sentencing hearing, loved ones of crash victim describe devastation of loss
“You left us devastated, torn, helpless and heartbroken forever.”
That’s just one of several emotionallycharged statements shared Friday in an Oakland County courtroom, by a Rochester woman whose husband of 27 years and father of their three children died after a Washington Township man slammed his sports car into their vehicle on Oct. 3, 2020.
Killed was Frank Morelli, 55, who suffered multiple broken bones, lacerations and other severe injuries in the crash. His wife, Janet Morelli, was alongside him in the vehicle — which reportedly was split into two by the collision — and suffered a back injury.
Caleb Herrera, 29, was in a 2017 Audi RS7 traveling close to 100 mph in a 35 mph zone when the collision occurred, at the entrance to the subdivision where the Morelli family had lived for 21 years.
Herrera subsequently was charged with reckless driving causing death, which he pleaded no contest to — and for which he will spend the next 3 to 15 years in prison, as ordered by Oakland County Circuit Judge Daniel O’Brien.
Morelli, who built a successful career as vice president at Merrill Private Wealth Management and was an active volunteer in his community, was also very much loved and is deeply missed — as evidenced by the victim impact statements read at his sentencing hearing and excerpts from several letters shared by the judge. O’Brien was visibly touched by much of what he read aloud, at times tearing up and pausing to regain his composure. Some of the other letters, O’Brien said, were “too much to bear,” and he simply couldn’t read them in the courtroom.
‘Our family suffers daily’
In her victim impact statement, Janet Morelli said she and her family have been “living a nightmare” since the crash. Her husband, she said, “meant so much to so many, and is dearly missed by everyone he knew and who knew him.”
She further described him as a strong leader, who worked hard but always made time for his family.
“We had so many hopes and dreams for our future together,” she said. But those dreams were shattered, she said, because of “a senseless and stupid act.”
And it was no accident, she said, but rather “a poor choice, incredibly selfish.”
“Each of us is left with a hole in our heart…our family suffers daily,” Janet Morelli said, adding that the “anguish at times is unbearable.”
She also read a victim impact statement from her teenage son, Anthony, who she said “couldn’t stomach being here to face his father’s killer.”
In his statement, Anthony called his father “my hero, my rock, my role model” and his best friend.
“I miss my dad so much, I can’t begin to describe the pain I feel in my heart…you took my best friend and have completely shattered me…my life is now so empty and my heart aches in disbelief,” he wrote.
Lia Morelli, one of Frank and Janet Morelli’s daughters, said her father “had a special way of touching others’ lives.” With his death, she said, she’s “left to piece together mentally, physically and emotionally” — and that it’s a pain she would wish on no one.
“You hurt us in ways you will never understand,” she said to Herrera.
And the older daughter, Christine Morelli, echoed her mother’s words of “living a nightmare.” She said she lies in bed at night, reliving what happened to her father “over and over and over again” — before crying herself to sleep.
“To say this accident has shaken our world is a complete understatement,” she said.
Her father, she added, “was so full of life, had so much more to look forward to…he was robbed of his dreams and everything he worked so hard for.”
‘A blessing to everyone who knew him’
In letters sent to O’Brien about Frank Morelli, he was described as kindhearted, selfless, charismatic, “a blessing to everyone who knew him,” a man with a bright smile and “immense wisdom and knowledge,” a pillar of the community, fun-loving and “truly, one of the greatest person in many people’s lives.” One writer said: “If you were Frank’s friend, you were family.”
Herrera appeared to listen intently to all who shared thoughts about Frank Morelli and their struggle to move on without him. He also offered an apology to the Morelli family.
“I’ll never be able to tell you how sorry I am. I’ll never be able to relieve the guilt that I feel,” he said.
Herrera said the crash happened because of his carelessness and him acting “arrogantly” and “irresponsibly.” And he thinks of Frank Morelli often, he said.
“It tears me in half. I can’t imagine how gut-wrenching the last one and a-half years have been for you,” he said. “I’m so, so sorry…I wish I could go back.”
Herrera also said he prays for Frank Morelli and the Morelli family.
“And I pray God forgives me,” he said.