Social Media Helps Track Down Driver In Fatal Hit-And-Run
(CBS) -- For the first time, a husband talks about the tragic Lake County accident that took his wife's life and how social media brought him justice.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot also shares his message for drivers.
David Berry remembers shock overwhelming him when he learned his wife of 20 years, Tracy Berry, had been killed by a hit and run driver.
Berry's 46-year-old wife was celebrating her brother's birthday in September 2013. Later, she stopped at a neighborhood bar in Island Lake. Walking home, she was hit by a car.
Police photos show Tracy's purse, phone, watch and lighter strewn around the scene. The driver took off, leaving Tracy in the road. Also left behind was part of a bumper from a red car.
Berry's daughter put the information out on Facebook.
"One of her friends told her there was a car like that, outside of her house, I believe it was, or down the street from her house," David Berry says.
Police would later arrest and charge Kevin T. Gillespie.
"In this case, it's a good reminder that social media is so powerful," says family attorney Jennifer Ashley, of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard in Waukegan.
Gillespie started serving prison time in Tracy's death just a few months ago. He admitted drinking and smoking marijuana before the accident.
"He got out of the car, apparently, took a look, got scared, jumped back in his car and left," Berry says.
Berry says he realizes it was an accident, but adds: "I pray he learns from it and I hope that he does something great with his life."
Berry's family wants something good to come out of her death. While they've received justice, they say they never want another family to suffer the way they have.
They say drinking and drugging should never be mixed with driving. The consequences cannot only be life-changing, but life-ending.