A man gets probation for killing a father and his four daughters

Maryland man, 46, gets probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV crossed a median and slammed into their minivan

By Lauren Edmonds, Dailymail, November 5, 2019

Maryland man who drove his pickup truck across a median on a Delaware highway and killed five members of the Trinidad family was sentenced to one year of probation.

The sentencing took place on Friday in front of Judge Calvin L. Scott Jr., who determined that Alvin Hubbard III, 46, would face 14 years in prison if he did not satisfy the terms of his probation.

The 2018 accident took the lives of Audie Trinidad, 61, and his daughters, Kaitlyn, 20, Danna, 17, and twins Allison and Melissa, 13.

Mary Rose Ballocanag, the widow and lone survivor the crash, previously asked the judge to impose the 14-year maximum prison sentence.

Prosecutors pushed for a one year prison sentence.

Ballocanag, along with 18 of the Trinidad’s friends and family, wept during the sentencing.

‘His one life will never be enough for the five people he killed,’ she said, according to NorthJersey.com.

Hubbard also cried throughout the sentencing hearing and when given a chance to speak, tearfully declined.

On Friday, Ballocanag approached a lectren to address the court.

She struggled to find the words as she cried, before saying ‘sorry.’

Ballocanag began to speak about the injuries she sustained when Hubbard’s car slammed into her family’s SUV in a horrific crash.

Eight surgeries have not brought back the use of her hands and legs, nor will she ever be able to work as a nurse again.

‘But my physical pain is nothing compared to the mental pain and anguish of losing my entire family,’ she said.

As she finished, she turned to Hubbard, lifting a photo of her deceased husband and daughters.

She said: ‘I want you to look at their faces. So when you look at your children, you will see the pieces of my children and my husband.’

John Kirk, Hubbard’s attorney, said on Friday that his client had a respiratory condition, called cough syncope.

He claims that Hubbard began to cough as he was driving on that tragic day and it caused him to stray out of his lane.

Hubbard’s cough allegedly became more forceful and he passed out behind the wheel.

Kirk said: ‘Many lives were ruined that day, including his.’

Ballocanag and Diane Lucianna, her spokesperson, called the respiratory claims ‘self-serving’.

Lucianna said Hubbard was not initially given any such medical diagnosis directly after the crash.

Kirk said a doctor diagnosed Hubbard later with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and that his client had not fallen asleep behind the wheel.

However, prosecutors told the judge that Hubbard only slept as much as five hours before working a full day prior to the crash.

When questioned, the state reportedly said there was no sign of ‘intentional or reckless conduct.’

The Delaware Department of Transportation installed a guard rail along the crash site on Delaware Route 1 after criticism grew.

Lucianna said Ballocanag initially considered suing the state, ‘but it’s right in Delaware statute, you can’t sue for guard rails or lack of.’

Instead, the insurance company for Aledak Metalworks had reached a confidential settlement with Ballocanag.

Lucianna said: ‘It’s the end of the road legally for this case.’

Hubbard, a welder for Aledak Metalworks, was driving a company car with a co-worker on July 6, 2018.

The two were heading south on Delaware Route 1, the state’s primary north-south expressway in a Ford F-350.

According to reports, the truck began to drift out of the left lane when Hubbard over-corrected.

The truck veered to the left once again, but this time crossed the median and entered into the northbound lanes.

At the exact moment, the Trinidad family from Teaneck, New Jersey, were returning home in their minivan from family vacation in Ocean City, Maryland.

First, Hubbard hit a sedan driven by Brian Kern and injured the man.

Then, he slammed into the Trinidad’s minivan.

Ballocanag, Hubbard and the co-worker were transported to a local hospital to treat non-life threatening injuries.

Regardless, Ballocanag suffered debilitating injuries like a broken left arm with infections, two fractured knees, fractured shoulders and a fractured right hip.

In a press conference, she addressed the accident for the first time.

‘Now that they’re all gone, I have nothing to look forward to but justice for them,’ she said.

‘I lost my family last July 6 because of a man in a truck crossed a wide grassy median and struck our car coming in the wrong direction. He is still walking free and I have to bury my husband and four daughters.’

Hubbard wasn’t immediately arrested after the crash and, at the time, the Delaware State Police said the investigation could span several months.

Daniel Trinidad, Audie’s brother, said: ‘Hopefully we can put this behind us. And hopefully, he gets the maximum because right now I can’t find it in my heart for any forgiveness.’

Hubbard was indicted in November 2018 on five counts of second-degree vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault.

He also faced charges of failing to obey traffic devices, driving across a median and inattentive driving.

Hubbard originally pleaded not guilty before the state lessened the charges to five counts of operating a vehicle causing death and five counts for second-degree and third-degree vehicular assault.

He pleaded guilty to those charges in June 2019.

At a hearing in June, he spoke in one-word answers like ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but admitted his culpability for the deaths and injuries.

Although he never explained his reactions, Hubbard admitted his negligent driving caused the accident.

In the wake of the accident, the Filipino community in Teaneck mourned the family.

Their congregation kept the family’s regular church pew where the family always sat.

Kaitlyn “Nikki” Trinidad, the oldest sister, was studying at a New York City college to become a nurse like her mother.

Dana, the middle sister, was outspoken and wanted to become an attorney.

The youngest, twins Melissa and Allison, loved to dance with each other.

Audie, the father, was Navy veteran and postal worker who commuted to his office in the Bronx.

He was a volunteer at the Church of Saint Anastasia and would guide guests to their seats for the 11.30am mass.

‘I don’t think any dad could say no to these beautiful kids,’ Daniel Trinidad said.

……………End

Source: Dailymail.com