May 8, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Driver pleads guilty in Lincoln Drive crash
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

The driver of this SUV that crashed into a house on Lincoln Drive last May pled guilty on April 29 to driving under the influence and other charges. (Photo provided by Kitty Dior)

The driver of an SUV who, under the influence, drove into the porch of a house on Lincoln Drive last May, pleaded guilty on April 29 to three charges related to the incident.

Robin Anderson pleaded guilty to criminal mischief, DUI and recklessly endangering another person.

Anderson, who at the time of the accident was said to be celebrating her recent release from prison, was driving down Lincoln Drive when she careened into the porch of Sharon and Larry Boyd on May 26, 2007. The Boyds live on Lincoln Drive at Hortter Street.

The porch, destroyed in the accident, was an extension of the living room and had just been restored.

“It’s kind of heartbreaking because we put a lot of work into it,” Boyd said on Monday. “That was the family gathering place, that sun porch, and it’s not there anymore.”

The Boyds have been battling insurance companies since the accident, and Mrs. Boyd is upset that her insurance has to cover the damages.

“I don’t expect to get too much restitution from her,” she said, referring to Anderson.

Boyd said structural engineers have told her that the full damage cannot be assessed without tearing the entire porch down. She said there are cracks in her basement’s walls since the accident and that total costs are estimated at $195,000.

Originally, the April 29 date at the Criminal Justice Center was to be a jury selection for a jury trial, but Anderson pleaded guilty instead.

“I feel pretty good that she pleaded guilty, it’s been a long haul,” she said.

“She has no remorse, really,” Boyd said. “I really wanted her to say she was sorry, but she never did.”

The Boyds are hoping to get the porch and house fixed soon, though Boyd isn’t sure how likely that is.

“If we’re lucky we’ll start construction on it this spring, but I just don’t know,” she said.

The sentencing date is set for June 30.