"High" Driver Who Killed Homeowner Indicted

The 18-year-old woman who, while allegedly high on Oxycontin and Xanax, took the wheel of a passenger van and fatally struck a homeowner, was indicted on 28 charges, including manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular manslaughter in the second degree and operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs. If convicted on all counts, Kayla Gerdes could face up to 59 years in prison. Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice said, "This defendant was focused on nothing else but getting high, and now an innocent woman has been violently killed."

DA Rice's press release also points out that Gerdes, who also doesn't have a license, was driving "on a straight road in good weather" in Hempstead, Long Island when she swerved and hit 69-year-old Dr. Rebecca Twine-Wright: "Dr. Twine-Wright was struck while mowing her lawn and pinned underneath the front axle of the van and the foundation of her home."

When she was being taken from the police station in April, Gerdes was emotionally yelling at reporters, "No, I didn't [purposely aim for her.] Listen, stop -- listen, it was an accident! Please leave me, alone it was a mistake! Stop it was a mistake! No, I was on prescription drugs, it was a mistake! Stop! Leave me alone!" But according to the police report, she said, "The thing that made me feel not so bad was she was old," referring to Twine-Wright, "I mean, 70 years is a long time to live."

Gerdes' lawyer claims that his client had to take control of the car from her boyfriend because he was high. He added, "Toxicology reports show that four and a half hours later she had drugs in her. It doesn't show that she had them in her system when she was driving the car," explaining that Gerdes took the drugs after the arrest. Gerdes was found with a doctor's prescription pad, 22 Oxycontin pills, and 29 Xanax pills.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on June 9, 2010 2:55 PM

Comments [rss]

Polemicist

JohnL: You obviously haven't done the good stuff or any drugs. oxycotin and vicodin are nowhere near as strong or as pleasurable as heroin - that is in fact the reason they were created. Besides, it's easy to make heroin - you just separate morphine from the resin of the poppy bulb, boil it with vinegar, and voile. Vicodin and oxycontin need to be made in a lab, and thus the supply will always be restricted for this reason.

kleinpeter

Considering the victim was -from all accounts- a fine, upstanding citizen, that should definitely be a big decision on this chicks punishment. She sucks, she killed someone who doesn't suck - so, lets get rid of her. No point in sparing the life of someone this bad for the world.

John L

Pharmaceutical companies are the new drug cartels and Doctors are the new drug dealers. Who needs cocaine when you can get some Oxycotin and Vicodin and whatever other LEGAL prescription drug and its just as effective at getting you high? It's simply legal drug dealing and its acceptable I guess because it can be taxed.

frankbooth

I'm wondering what the "homeowner" description has to do with anything. Would it make a difference if the woman who was runover was renting?

Cannibal

Hope the prison bus hits her

smilez4milez

File this one under "Biddies". ;)

Sketto

And now it's...

18 and life you got it

18 and life you know

Your crime is time and it's

18 and life to go

HypocraticOath

Know what else is a long life? 71 years old, which I am sure the Doctor would have made it to if she wasnt needlessly killed by this waste of skin.

HypocraticOath

Dammit, why if I decheck "reply to comment" does it still put this here? My mistake.

And +1 for Skid Row lyrics.

Mookie Wilson

Jail time is actually the only thing that is going to save this crackhead's life.

laisla

Exactly.

Mordicai

Hey! They were PRESCRIPTION drugs. She sure wrote the prescription herself, but that has to count for something?

What is with all the "homeowner" heavy bits? Do people who own property count extra? Like, double votes? Or more points if you hit them? Anyhow, I guess I get it. Us renters are basically transients. Hobos.

Guest

It's been that way since this country began. Used to be, only white male property owners could vote.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

18, driving high on your way to court with '...a doctor's prescription pad, 22 Oxycontin pills, and 29 Xanax pills' and she runs over an elderly woman.

damn

and here I think I'm irresponsible for not full funding my IRA....

I'm gotta stop being so hard on myself.

Petey

If she didn't make those comments at her time of arrest, she wouldn't have been charged with so many charges. The DA's office went after her due to her insensitivity and lack or remorse and responsibility for her actions.

tgg001

Which charges would they not have filed against her? Which ones do they file only if you show, "insensitivity and lack or remorse and responsibility for her actions."?

???

Petey

Since you asked, of the 28 total charges, the ones I would quickly skip:

unlicensed operation of vehicle (1 traffic violation)

reckless driving

the 4 misdemeanor drug possession charges (multiple counts) those would be superseded by the 4 felony drug possession charges, which are also higher than both the manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter charges.

the 3 violation marijuana possession charges

MT

And she was on her way to court at the time??!? Who goes to court high with drugs and an Rx pad on them?!?

jpeditor

Hey we need to let people take all the drugs they want whenever they want. Legalize drugs! Make all drugs FREEEEEEE!

/sarcasm off.

Guest

Eh, lame sarcasm. Recreational drugs, including alcohol, should be regulated and adults should be allowed to ingest whatever they want. They should also be severely punished for killing people while driving intoxicated; some prescription drugs specifically tell people to not operate heavy machinery or drive under their influence.