PITTSBURGH - Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala held a news conference today to announce that he would seek the death penalty for the woman driving a car allegedly involved in an accident that sent Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to the hospital. Zappala said he hoped to bring the woman to trial by early this afternoon, reach a verdict by the dinner hour and end her life by lethal injection "before the sun sets this evening." Despite the fact officials insist that the investigation of the accident won’t be completed for at least two weeks, Zappala said that the “enormity of the impact of the injuries sustained by Mr. Roethlisberger on the emotional and mental health of the community at large demands that the driver of this vehicle, whoever she is, forfeit her life.”
When reporters asked if the fact that Roethlisberger was the quarterback of a professional football franchise in the city played a part in his decision to seek the death penalty, Zappala replied “absolutely.” Pressed further by newsmen who wondered why the sixty-four year old woman driving the car would be executed before law enforcement officials could determine whether or not she committed a crime, Zappala was incredulous. “The driver of the vehicle that struck Big Ben nearly killed the most important player on the most beloved sports franchise in town. We need to send a message to other potential drivers out there that if you’re going to run over a Steeler, you’re going to pay a price.”
Zappala said he hoped the swift arrest, prosecution and punishment meted out to the driver of the vehicle that struck Big Ben would assure the public that his office had a “zero tolerance” for any acts that could jeopardize the Steelers chances to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
