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Office of the District Attorney 25 Year Old Receives 2-6 Years for Aggravated Vehicular Assault and DWI after Pinning Two Victims Between Vehicle and Building ALBANY, NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced that DANIELLE DAMBROSI, 25, of Cohoes, NY, was sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison by the Honorable Thomas Breslin. In August, DAMBROSI pled guilty to (1) count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a Class “C” Felony and (1) count of misdemeanor DWI. This is only the second time that an individual has been indicted and convicted of the charge of Aggravated Vehicular Assault in Albany County since the law was enacted in November of 2007. The first case involved Dennis Brodeur who pled guilty in July and was sentenced last month. On February 24, 2008 at approximately 1:23 A.M. on Columbia and North Pearl Streets in the City of Albany, DAMBROSI was out with friends drinking on Pearl Street. Upon leaving the bars, she got behind the wheel of her vehicle then crashed into multiple parked vehicles. DAMBROSI then drove over the curb and onto the sidewalk at an intersection hitting a male and female victim who were waiting for a cab to take them home. The victims were pinned between a building and the front grill of the vehicle as DAMBROSI continued to rev the gas because the vehicle was not moving. Both victims suffered serious physical injuries consisting of significant skin and soft tissue loss to the their legs, requiring plastic surgery and extensive and ongoing physical therapy, resulting in disfigurement and ongoing pain. During the sentencing today the female victim faced DAMBROSI and said that on the night of the accident, “We were innocently standing on the sidewalk… discussing how we were going to take a cab home, which is the right thing to do, when you slammed into that cab that was waiting on the corner. When I saw you hit that car I tried to react as,” the male victim, “ tried to push me out of the way. It was a split second later that I realized I was being pinned to the building. We both began screaming for you to get your car off of us. Danielle, do you remember our faces as we screamed in pain and shock? I sure do remember your face as you stared dumbfounded while you spun your tires not realizing that you couldn’t go forward anymore.” She continued, “I graduated from college last May and had big plans for my first year out of school. I had to put many of these plans on hold. Although I am extremely grateful that my injuries did not cause me to lose my leg I still have to deal with the large scar that will be there for the rest of my life. I have to look at that scar every day and remember what you did to me…, how you chose to be selfish and get in your car and drive when you were intoxicated.” The male victim also spoke during the sentencing, “The blatant disregard for anyone else’s life is appalling and it makes me sick that you, Danielle, hold yourself higher than the law, and someone else’s life. And to think, what if you hadn’t hit anyone with your car on February 23rd, would you do the same thing next weekend? How many times have you taken other individuals live into your hands without their permission?” “After hearing the statements made by the victims in this case, there is little left to say,” commented DA Soares. “Drinking and driving is one of the most preventable crimes we prosecute in this office and by informing the public about the tragedies we see on a daily basis, I hope that we are able to get through to people that your choice to drink and drive, or find a responsible ride home can save a life, or land you in prison.” ADA Mary Tanner-Richter from the Major Offense Unit handled the prosecution of this case. For further information, please contact Heather Streeter Orth. # # # For further information contact: Heather Streeter Orth
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