Man Gets 13 Years For Fatal Hit-And-Run
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A man admits to a drunken hit-and-run accident that killed a Johns Hopkins student.
Mike Hellgren was in court as the driver learned his punishment.
He said nothing. The judge called Thomas Meighan a "menace." He got 13 years and could be out on parole in six. The father of victim Miriam Frankl says the state of Maryland has failed her.
Loved ones of Johns Hopkins student Miriam Frankl wept during sentencing for the serial drunk driver who hit and killed her as she crossed the street in Charles Village in October 2009.
Thomas Meighan will get 13 years behind bars for that crime and a DUI that sent several teenagers to the hospital just three months before. Those victims told WJZ they thought the punishment was too lenient.
"No justice has been served. He hasn't been there long enough to really understand what he's done," said Damian Banks.
"They lost someone, a member of that family, someone who can't be replaced at all," said Tiffany Rawlings.
Frankl's family said they were too shaken to speak on camera, but her father said in court, "Mr. Meighan selfishly became intoxicated and cruelly drove his truck until he found a helpless victim to crush in his rage."
Frankl's grandfather called this a senseless loss and her aunt said she doubted whether Meighan could ever be rehabilitated.
A WJZ investigation found Meighan had a long record of drunk driving-related offenses, at least nine of them in the past 15 years, leaving victims and their family members wondering why he wasn't in jail.
"Once they caught him after he hit us, they should've kept him there," said Lynnora Christian. "There's no reason he should've been let back out to do it again."
Prosecutors wanted 16 years in jail, but the judge found that excessive.
Frankl wanted to be a molecular biologist. Many of her sorority sisters were there Wednesday to show support.
