STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As part of an ongoing series of events during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon on Tuesday partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in New Dorp to remind others of the lives lost to vehicular crimes.
“We are here to protect our students, our local towns and neighbors,” said Dennis O’Connor, victim services specialist for MADD New York, at the gathering on the corner of Hylan Boulevard and Rose Avenue. “We’re all on the same team. We have the same goal: No more unsafe, drugged, bad driving. If you go out to celebrate, make sure you make a plan to get home.”
During Tuesday’s event, attendees honored the late Cary Candella, who was killed by a drunk driver on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in 1997. Since then, the Candella family has worked with MADD and the district attorney’s office to share their story and help prevent future drunk driving deaths.
“It changed our family forever; our brothers got married, had kids,’’ said Douglas Candella. ”Cary has eight nieces and nephews that he’s never met. Our whole family changed … that day. Please don’t drink and drive as an option — use a bus, train — especially when you drink.”
Preventing and prosecuting impaired driving has long been a point of emphasis for McMahon’s office…