Haverhill Husband: 'She Said 'I Love You' And She Stopped Breathing'
HAVERHILL (CBS) — A Haverhill woman accused of driving drunk when she struck and killed a beloved foster mother picking up doughnuts for her church was ordered held on $50,000 bail Monday.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports
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Thirty-seven-year-old Lisa Leavitt of Haverhill was arraigned in Haverhill District Court on negligent driving and motor vehicle homicide while intoxicated charges.
Police say she crashed her car into 63-year-old Karen LaPierre at about 5:20 a.m. Sunday in front of a bakery as LaPierre loaded doughnuts into her car for church later that morning.
Prosecutors said Leavitt's blood-alcohol reading was more than twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.
"Her statement to the police at that point was 'I killed someone, shut the f--- up, this is going to change MY whole life.'" prosecutor John DePaulo told the court.
LaPierre was with her husband Bill at the time of the accident. She died in his arms.
"I told her I loved her, and she said 'I love you' and she stopped breathing," he told WBZ-TV Monday.
The couple had been married 37 years.
Karen LaPierre was known around town for her giving nature. She helped run the food pantry at the Sacred Heart Church, where they prepared 300 meals over the weekend for the needy.
Despite his sudden loss, Bill LaPierre said he forgives Leavitt and is at peace.
"I hope she gets the help she needs now, because look what she's done to her family," he said.
WBZ-TV's Sera Congi reports
Leavitt does not have a prior criminal record and she has been taking anxiety medication, her attorney said.
If she makes bail and is released, Leavitt must wear an electronic monitor.
