A woman charged in a drunken driving crash that maimed a motorcyclist and his passenger pleaded guilty in Bedford County Circuit Court Tuesday.
Doris Elizabeth Coe, 41, faced two counts of DUI maiming and one misdemeanor DUI charge for the May 28 wreck that left two people permanently disabled.
Judge James Updike allowed Coe to read a statement apologizing to Anthony McClure and Laura Fizer for being intoxicated that evening when her Ford Fusion crossed the centerline of Virginia 43 and hit the motorcycle.
“I pray for you two daily,” Coe said tearfully. “I ask God to please give you the strength to make it through the day.”
Coe said as a mother, she always taught her children drinking and driving is not acceptable and when she has served her sentence she will become a spokeswoman, advocating against alcohol abuse.
“It is not worth it,” she said. “I hope you can forgive me.”
Assistant Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney John Wheelock said after the hearing both victims suffered a significant amount of blood loss, along with near-amputation of their left feet, which were surgically reattached.
He said McClure lost so much blood he had a stroke. As a result he lost sight in both eyes, a condition Wheelock said is permanent. The wreck cost McClure his left arm below the elbow.
Fizer, he said, may regain some function in her left foot but she is permanently disabled.
Wheelock told Updike that Virginia State Police Trooper G.D. Musgrove would have testified the Ford Fusion crossed into the north-bound lane of Virginia 43 near its intersection with Kelso Mill Road. The collision between Coe’s car and McClure’s motorcycle left the bike “broken in many pieces.”
When Musgrove arrived at the crash at about 6:45 p.m., Coe told him she began drinking before noon, Wheelock said.
Coe’s blood alcohol level registered at .16, or twice the legal limit, he said.
After the hearing he categorized the scene as “one of the worst scenes that local first responders have seen.”
He said Coe’s plea was not part of any plea deal and her commitment to speak out against alcohol abuse was not a condition of the plea.
A sentencing hearing is set for April 27 at 1:30 p.m.
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