COLUMBIA COUUNTY, N.Y. (WRGB) — Outrage from a woman whose life changed forever because of a drunk driver more than ten years ago.
Sandy LaPlante from Coeymans Hollow lost her leg in a drunk driving crash in 2014.
Now, she uses her story to inform the public about the dangers of drunk driving.
When she heard that Stephanie VanAlstyne, a now-former Greenport Police officer, was offered a lesser charge after crashing her cruiser on the job and being drunk, it struck a nerve with Sandy.
VanAlstyne was on duty on August 2nd, with a BAC of 0.15%, when she crashed her police cruiser into a light pole.
Emma Quinn asked, “What was going through your mind when you read that?”
“It kind of annoyed me because she’s a police officer and she’s doing something that she arrests people for; people go to jail for what she is doing,” said LaPlante.
Attorney Greg Rinckey says the former officer could’ve faced even more charges, such as reckless endangerment.
“You know, as a police officer, when you’re driving around or responding, and you’re impaired by alcohol, definitely there’s a substantial risk. And I mean, we saw what happened as she crashed her vehicle,” said Rinckey.
The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office recused itself from the case as VanAlstyne worked for the sheriff’s office as a corrections officer.
A special prosecutor was assigned to the case.
VanAlstyne pleaded guilty to a DWAI, a traffic infraction.
Her license will be suspended for 90 days, and she’ll pay a $300 fine and a $250 mandatory surcharge. She’s also required to take a victim impact panel class.
LaPlante speaks at these panels across the Capital Region.
“I lost my leg to a drunk driver, and I feel like if I can get one person out of that class that has come through it with a DWI to realize how important it is not to drink and drive, and I’m not sitting here preaching that people can’t drink. They just have to be responsible and make a plan,” LaPlante said.
