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DWI victim had 'never been happier'

BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO | christine.armario@newsday.com

8:20 PM EDT, March 14, 2008

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Lauren Fennell's life was just starting to come together when a drunken driver plowed into her boyfriend's car, causing the injuries that led to her death early Friday, Suffolk County police and her family said.

Fennell, 21, had found a job she loved supervising the cafe at Sam's Club in Medford; was in a new romantic relationship; and enjoyed teaching religious education at a Lake Ronkonkoma church.

"I'd never seen her happier," her father, James Fennell, said through tears as he sat in their Selden home in front of a table filled with photographs of her.

The young woman, who friends and family said had a smile that could light up the room, died at 1:36 a.m. at Stony Brook University Medical Center, a day after the crash. According to police, Michael Echan, 23, her boyfriend, was driving her home when they were broadsided by a 1999 Nissan Altima in Middle Island.

Jorge Martinez, 23, of Middle Island, has been charged with driving while intoxicated. He was arraigned Friday in First District Court, Central Islip, where he pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. Martinez was represented by the Legal Aid Society.

The criminal complaint states Martinez claimed he had a green light. However, police noted he had glassy, bloodshot eyes and his breath "did smell of an alcohol beverage." He was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, where he refused to take a blood test. Police obtained a court order forcing him to submit to the test. The results were not available.

The Suffolk County district attorney's office said additional criminal charges are pending.

Fennell was a 2004 graduate of Newfield High School who had attended Suffolk County Community College and loved to sing. She taught religion to third-graders as a volunteer at the Church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on Portion Road.

"She was dedicated and very sweet and loving," said Mary DellaVecchia, the director of religious education. "She'll be missed very much by all of us."

Among the qualities her family said they will remember most is her generosity. For her mother's birthday, she made a pond in the backyard and filled it with koi and goldfish. The fish died over the winter, but her father said they will be restocking and cleaning it in her memory this spring.

Fennell also was registered as an organ donor. James Fennell said he and his wife were unaware, but Lauren had told her younger sister, Amanda, that "when she passed away, she wanted to leave something for other people."

Many of her organs were damaged from the crash, but she will still be able to help a number of people, her father said.

A wake will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Giovi Funeral Home in Selden from to 2-4 p.m. and 7-9:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will follow Monday at the Church of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton at 9:45 a.m.