N.J. Woman Convicted Of 4th DUI After Finishing Jail Term For 3rd DWI
WOODBURY – 31-year-old Kelli D. Hennessey of Franklin Township was released from jail last week for her third drunk driving conviction when she added a fourth conviction to her record after being released.
Hennessey was convicted Tuesday on three counts of assault by auto in a school zone for a drunken driving incident that took place on 6 November, 2011. She was involved in a crash in Glassboro when she hit three Rowan University students who were crossing Delsea Drive. Two of the students suffered leg injuries, whereas the third student suffered a broken collarbone and a broken leg which had to be reinforced with a metal rod. She also suffered facial cuts that required stitches as she was thrown into the windshield upon impact. The students were unable to identify the driver.
According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Hennessey’s bail was revoked and she was jailed pending her Sept. 11 sentencing.
After completing a 180-day sentence, Hennessey was released from jail last Friday. She was serving for drunken driving, which stemmed from her 2010 arrest in Clayton.
During her trial, Hennessey testified that an acquaintance was driving her car, when she was involved in her latest case. She said that the acquaintance fled the scene after the crash and that she was the only passenger in the vehicle. The acquaintance was not called as a witness at the hearing.
According to a Glassboro police officer, Hennessey admitted that she was driving the Ford Taurus at the scene. She was issued a breath test which showed her blood alcohol level at 0.13%, much higher than the legal limit of 0.08% for driving in New Jersey.
Reports given by Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Staci Scheetz stated that the crash occurred within 1,000 feet of Glassboro Intermediate School. Vehicular assault in a school zone that results in serious injury is a second-degree crime, and is punishable by 5-10 years in prison. Third-degree assault by auto means a sentence of 3-5 years.
Hennessey faced multiple counts of assault by auto in a school zone, one of which was second-degree, and the other two were third-degree.
News Source: www.NJ.com