A weekend motorcycle trip to Wisconsin turned tragic in the spring of 2009 when a driver allegedly caused a chain-reaction crash that involved a procession of riders. This week, 24-year-old Alia Bernard, who said that the sun was in her eyes, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the fatal accident.
Dozens of motorcycle enthusiasts, including 44-year-old Wade Thomas and 43-year-old Denise Thomas, were traveling from Aurora to Wisconsin three years ago this May when the motorcycle accident took place. Bernard, who was distracted by a recent fight with her boyfriend and who said the glare of the morning light affected her vision, struck a car that in turn pushed another vehicle into the path of the weekending riders.
Both Wade and Denise Thomas were killed in the accident, while at least five other people were injured in the crash. One man, 54-year-old Jere Bozonelos, was injured so seriously that he was in the hospital for months and had to renovate his home to accommodate his disabilities. He estimates that he has $3 million in hospital bills.
After the motorcycle crash, Bernard pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence. She tested positive for marijuana, but claims that she hadn’t been high at the time of the accident.
The Madison motorcycle accident attorneys at Hupy & Abraham send their heartfelt condolences to the nine children of Wade and Denise Thomas, and wish swift and complete recoveries to the other injury victims affected by this chain-reaction crash.