Pocono News Section

Drunk Driver Found Guilty of Killing Girlfriend in Crash

Drunk Driver Found Guilty of Killing Girlfriend in Crash - Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 11:39PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 @11:39pm EST

POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY- A Schuylkill County jury finds a Tremont Township man guilty of cutting his girlfriend's life short.

Neil Hatfield was found guilty of vehicular homicide Tuesday afternoon. Hatfield was behind the wheel in a deadly drunk driving accident, killing 22-year-old Shannon Sullivan of Pine Grove.

Sullivan's family waited patiently for this day. Shannon's father said, "Nobody wins in something like this. Shannon's not coming back, our families not going to be put together again. But we're all happy it's over with. At least this part of it."

Sullivan's family was torn apart after she died in Hegins Township in August 2006. Hatfield drove Sullivan home after a long night of drinking. He missed a stop sign, leading to the deadly accident. Sullivan's father says Hatfield only recently apologized, but thinks it was coached by his defense attorney. "That was one of our problems with this. A note in the mailbox, a message on our phone machine. Something, something to tell us that he was remorseful or sorry," he said.But now family and friends are trying to move on. Shannon's friend Cody Barry says, "We're moving on with our lives, but she's never coming back. But for us, we're going to live on for her. She had a lot of stuff she wanted to get accomplished, and get done."

Kelly Spittle of Pine Grove said, "Something's happening. You know it's finally another step forward where we all can just gradually try to move on."

When asked if the guilty verdict brings closure to the family, Sullivan's father said, "Partially, it will never be totally closed. Every day we think about her."

And the Sullivan's hope anyone thinking about drinking and driving will remember Shannon and not take that chance.

Hatfield's sentencing date hasn't been set. The Sullivans say they'll be back in the courthouse when it happens.