When he sentenced Samuel Grace III for a crash that took the life of a Blairsville woman, Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani told Grace last December that his driving record “demonstrates a complete disregard for the safety of other people.” Yesterday, the judge ordered an early release from prison for Grace, telling him he hopes that when he gets out of jail, he will “respect the rules of the road.”
Grace is 22 years old and from New Alexandria. In October of 2016 he was going 70 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone on Route 982 in Derry Township when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided with the vehicle of 71-year-old Harriet Malloy near Laughlin Farm Road. Malloy died, but her 9-month-old great granddaughter escaped injury, despite being trapped in the wreckage.
Grace was originally sentenced to 11 ½ to 23 months in prison. He will be released on July 10th with an additional eleven months of house arrest. The judge cited Grace’s good conduct in prison and his having had no prior criminal record. He also said that if Malloy’s family objects to the ruling, he will schedule a hearing to reconsider his decision.
