A former Mesa student was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Sept. 25 for gross vehicular manslaughter in a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a Mesa freshman last year.
Eric Joseph Leeman, 21, expressed remorse over the Nov. 12, 2006 hit-and-run that killed then-Mesa freshman Whitney Young, 19.
“The pain I have caused the Young family is insurmountable to anything I can ever imagine,” Leeman said at the sentencing.
Young’s mother, father, brother and sister addressed the judge about their loss.
“Part of me died with the death of Whitney and I will never be the same person,” said Marlene Young, Whitney’s mother. “I will never have the opportunity to plan her dream wedding. Or to hold her babies, or have the opportunity to kiss and hug her again.”
Mesa College President Dr. Rita said in a September interview that the hit-and-run is a tragic example of the loss of life that can result from drunk driving.
“Alcohol is a drug of choice. It’s always on the increase, and it appears harmless, and it appears to be everywhere,” said Cepeda. “It’s probably one of the most horrific and painful things that can be going on. We cannot focus on it enough.”
Leeman struck Young last year with his BMW near the Montezuma Road and Rockford Drive intersection in the College Area after drinking heavily at a party near SDSU. Young died four days later at Scripps Mercy Hospital. Leeman told police when questioned that he did not stop driving because he thought that he had hit a raccoon.
Leeman originally pleaded not guilty to felony hit-and-run charges at his arraignment last November.
Murder charges and gross vehicular manslaughter charges were added after it was established that alcohol had been involved and that Leeman had a prior DUI.
The murder and hit-and-run charges were dropped as part of an agreement with prosecutors when he changed his plea to guilty on Aug. 23.
“Two lives have been lost,” Cepeda said. “Two [sets of] parents are mourning and obviously one [family] has lost their child forever, and the other one has lost the potential for a human being forever because [Leeman] will be changed forever by this experience.”
At a memorial held for Young on campus last year, Young’s father announced the family’s intention to establish a scholarship in Young’s name. The Whitney M. Young Memorial Scholarship was awarded for the first time in May to four Mesa students pursuing a career in teaching or a child development related field.
“The establishment of the scholarship ensures that some of [Young’s] good will lives on,” said Cepeda.