Drunken driver gets 7 years for killing Shore-bound woman

A Sicklerville resident has been sentenced to seven years in prison for vehicular homicide and drunken driving after killing a Western Pennsylvania woman headed to the Jersey Shore in a 2009 collision on the Atlantic City Expressway.

Tiece Riddick, 35, also received 27 months on three counts of assault by auto, to run concurrently. She must serve 85 percent of her sentence before being eligible for parole.

Riddick was on her way home July 30, after an evening in Philadelphia, when her Acura rear-ended a Ford Taurus driven by Darlene Siska, 53, in Winslow. Siska and three passengers, including her teenage son, were on their way to the Shore. Both vehicles were in the right lane.

Siska's car spun into another lane near Exit 38, crashed through the guardrail, and ran into a wooded area on the median strip.

Passenger Kathleen Lucas, 44, was killed. Siska was injured, as were her son Vaughn, 14, and his friend Tyler Rugg, 14, who were in the rear seat. All were from Windber, Pa., and have recovered.

Riddick failed a field sobriety test and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.13, based on a test taken more than two hours later, authorities said.

She was convicted by a jury in August and sentenced Thursday by Superior Court Judge Louise Donaldson in Camden.

"I wanted to remember all the incredible and special things [Kathleen Lucas] had done in her life," Darlene Siska said of her friend at the sentencing.

"Instead, I was forced to remember her over and over, broken and bleeding in the car seat next to me, dying before my eyes, me helpless to help her," she said.

At the sentencing, Lucas' family recalled her commitment to her son Brett and her involvement with her community. More than 2,000 people attended her viewing, relatives said.

"The funeral procession was led with around 40 motorcycles," said Lucas' sister Jodi Gahagen. "The place where Kathy was viewed said that her funeral was the largest he has ever had. So what does that tell you about the kind of person my sister was?"

Brett Lucas spoke at the sentencing about the pain he has felt, knowing his mother would not see him graduate from college or get married.

"Even though she wasn't there physically, I felt her presence," he said. "Thanks to Ms. Riddick, I will always have a hole in my heart."