On Saturday morning March 16, 2002, Brian Kronberger, a 16 year old boy and his friend were walking down the sidewalk in a school zone on Pecks Drive in Everett, Washington. A Volkswagon bus veered in and hit Brian from behind then veered out immediately and sped away from the scene. Brian was thrown 35 feet head first into a parked car. Brian was rushed to Harborview Hospital where his family was informed Brian would not survive his head injuries.

The driver and his passenger both claim they had fallen asleep. The driver admitted to staying up all night consuming alcoholic beverages. He still had a significant amount of alcohol in his blood but was no longer legally drunk at the time of the incident. Within just a few hours of killing Brian, the driver was a free man. No charges have been filed on the driver to this day, criminal or otherwise. Eight months after losing Brian, the family still deeply mourns, the driver carries on with his life.

The driver was uninsured and was in a borrowed vehicle also uninsured. He is a habitual traffic offender with numerous offenses. He repeatedly drives with no insurance, no valid drivers license, and had been charged previously with DUI, reckless driving, and speeding. Now he has killed someone due to his careless and negligent driving habits.

The law has clearly told this man that what he did is not a crime and he did nothing wrong. He is free to repeat himself with no punishment and no lesson learned. Driving on the sidewalk, killing a child, and leaving the scene is not a crime. This, despite the fact that the driver willingly got behind the wheel and drove knowing he was impaired by lack of sleep and alcohol consumption.

Brian was a bright, cheerful, and athletic boy who had many friends. He was respected by many adults as a kind and thoughtful child. Brian loved life and had dreams for his future. Dreams he will never have the chance to fulfill. His death has caused much pain and suffering for his family and friends. There is no peace to be found especially when the driver was never charged.

Brian’s life has been deemed insignificant and meaningless by our system of law. Brian deserves justice. The family needs justice so they can let Brian rest in peace.