Phelps woman gets prison for fatal Montezuma crash

Rebecca Lackey, age 45, of Melvin Hill Road in Phelps, plead guilty Thursday morning to Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, Driving While Ability Impaired by Combined Influence of Drugs, and Improper Use of a Portable Electronic Device on a Public Highway, all in relation to a fatal motor vehicle crash on State Route 5 in the Town of Montezuma at 2:30 p.m. on July 31, 2013.Assistant District Attorney Diane Adsit, who prosecuted the case, asked Judge Thomas Leone to sentence the defendant to 4-12 years in Prison even though the Ontario County Probation Department recommended local jail and Probation. She said that it would be a gross miscarriage of justice to give the defendant such a lenient sentence. Lackey’s Attorney, Joseph Midiri, asked the Judge for a minimum sentence, pointing out his client’s lack of criminal history and mental health issues.Judge Leone sentenced Lackey to 1-3 years in prison on the Manslaughter charge, and concurrent 1 year jail sentences on the Assault and DWAI Combined Influence of Drugs charges.He imposed a DNA Fee of $50, $500 fine and 6 month mandatory license revocation on the DWAI Combined influence of Drugs charge and a $100 fine on the charge of Using a Portable Electronic Device. He also granted the District Attorney’s request for restitution to be paid in the amount of $17,250.47 to Harold Bobbett for uninsured medical and dental expenses and renovations to his home to accommodate the wheelchair he now needs to use. Lackey was driving eastbound on Route 5 while under the combined influence of prescription drugs and using a handheld GPS device, when she crossed the center line into the path of a westbound SUV driven by 72 year old Harold Bobbett of Throop. The initial collision between Lackey’s car and Mr. Bobbett’s SUV sent the SUV spinning into the path of Lindsey Leisenring’s eastbound pick-up truck, which was hauling a large horse trailer. The truck struck the SUV broadside on the passenger side. Mr. Bobbett’s passenger, 66-year-old Janice Borromei, of Throop was killed and Mr. Bobbett suffered serious, life threatening injuries. Harold Bobbett was hospitalized for several months as a result of his injuries, followed by two months in a rehab facility before he could finally return home. He has since fallen while attempting to move around and is back in a local nursing home. Drug testing showed that Lackey was impaired by a cocktail of medications, including Aripiprazole, Prazosin, Citalopram/Escitalopram, Phenytoin, and Topiramate. The drugs were prescriptions, but they do carry warnings about the dangers of driving or using heavy machinery while taking them. ADA Adsit pointed out to the Court at Sentencing that even with prescription drugs, we all need to be responsible for what we take and pay attention to the affects drugs have on our minds and bodies and not drive when they impair our abilities. Added to the impairment that Lackey suffered, was the reckless decision to use a handheld GPS unit while she was driving. The end result was the death of a vibrant and well-loved woman, and the destruction of a vibrant and active man’s life. The New York State Police investigated the crash and Drug Recognition Expert Trooper Andrew Campbell was key to the investigation and findings that Lackey was under the combined influence of the drugs that she was taking.