Local Kindergarten teacher killed by drunk driver this weekend

[binny]

Its just so sad.

This woman has been teaching Kindergarten in our area for 15 years. She was known for helping kids and being a great teacher. The driver of the car was drunk and had a prior record for DUI. He swerved into her lane and hit her head on. He was killed instantly, she on the other hand sufferred for days before passing on.


When are people ever going to learn?

You CANNOT drink and DRIVE!! Just DONT. This is not rocket science people!!



Its just frustrating to me.

Im sorry, I just dont understand what people are thinking who do this.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I'm so sorry to hear this. That happened to a friend of my sister several years ago. A drunk driver jumped the divider on the highway, hit him head on and killed him.

Thinking? Drunk drivers aren't thinking at all! I have NO sympathy for them. It's plain STUPIDITY!

 

[Jolie C]

Originally posted by binny
I just dont understand what people are thinking who do this.

They aren't.

 

[CEDmom]

How awful and sad that is . Did she have a family of her own? I'm always saddened at the death of someone young but find it especially tragic if young child are left w/o a mom or dad.

 

[MAC3]

What a loss for your community. Teachers like that are few & far between these days.

 

[binny]

yes 2 of her children and a friend were with her in the van and one escaped with minor injuries the other is still in hospital.

Here is the article

NAMPA -- Friends and family of a local kindergarten teacher who died after a head-on collision Sunday say the crash that killed her was no accident.




Lori Simmons died from injuries suffered in a head-on crash Sunday. Her best friend Cindy Penner was sitting next to her during the accident.
Investigators say the driver of the other vehicle, David Dunar, 49, of Eagle, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, and this was not his first time driving drunk.


Cindy Penner survived the crash but lost her best friend, Lori Simmons.


Simmons, who is from Nampa, was driving her van along Chinden Boulevard Sunday evening


Penner was riding in the passenger seat and Simmons’ two children were in the back seat.


Penner said the accident happened so quickly there was no time for Simmons to react. She said Dunar’s car crossed into their lane and hit them head on.


Dunar was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say a preliminary test put Dunar’s BAC at .11.


Simmons died Wednesday from the impacts of the crash after she was taken off life support.


Her 12-year-old daughter is still recovering in the hospital from her injuries, while her 9-year-old son suffered only minor injuries.


“I was initially very angry, very furious,” Penner said. “It’s not personal to the family. People should not drink and drive period. It was no longer was an accident it was a choice that man made to drive drunk. I’m not going to let this slide and when I get on something it's not going to go away. People are going to hear about this."




KTVB
Two people died in this crash on Chinden Boulevard. Police say the man who caused the accident was under the influence of alcohol.
Dunar was convicted of driving under the influence and drug paraphernalia possession in 1989.


Since then, he has been charged with reckless and inattentive driving, leaving the scene of an accident and has been issued several speeding tickets.


Simmons taught kindergarten for 15 years, most recently at East Canyon Elementary School.


She is survived by her two children, who will now live with their father.


Funeral services for Lori Simmons will be held on August 4 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa.


and the newspaper article is here:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/...0730/NEWS01/407300320&SearchID=73179245436377