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Teens Face Charges In Party That Led To Fatal Crash

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By Samara Sodos

Published: October 1, 2007

TAMPA - Eight days into her college career, Plant High graduate Mary Grace Taaffe died from injuries suffered in a crash in which she drove under the influence.

On Sunday, investigators charged Florida Gulf Coast University students Nicholas Charles Herrig, 19, and Kevin Michael Curtin, 19, with misdemeanor charges of hosting an open house party. Taaffe left the party minutes before her crash.

Different charges are pending against partygoers Tyler Fry, Brian Cochran and Brett Griffin, a release states. The three "gave false statements to law enforcement" about what they knew about the party and crash, an investigative report released today states.

Taaffe, 18, of Tampa, was pronounced dead Aug. 31 after she lost control of her 1998 BMW on northbound U.S. 41 near Fort Myers.

The Florida Gulf Coast freshman crashed about two miles from the party, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. An incident report states that Taaffe had a blood-alcohol level of .139. Florida law presumes a driver is intoxicated at .08.

Taaffe's mother, Davis Islands resident Mary Bruce Taaffe, said she and her husband were generally unsupportive of the charges filed Sunday. She said the blame rests squarely on her daughter.

"It was the worst choice of her life. An out of the blue choice," Mary Bruce Taaffe said today. "It was Mary Grace's mistake, and she would hate that other people were blamed for it. But it's the law, and it's out of our hands."

The report by Trooper George Kantor said Curtin admitted that Taaffe was drinking rum and Red Bull at the party and that he saw her leave several times to refill her drink.

"There was alcohol being consumed at the party and no person was 21 year of age, or older," Kantor wrote.

If convicted of the second-degree misdemeanor, Herrig and Curtin could face up to 60 days in jail.

In the crash, Taaffe was not wearing a seat belt when her car veered off the road and slammed into a stand of trees on the east side of U.S. 41, Kantor said. Passenger Erin Brittany Reid, 18, of Tampa, was treated at Lee Memorial Hospital for minor injuries and released.

Taaffe, a former captain of Plant's cheerleading squad, had aspired to work in the United Nations. She decided to attend Florida Gulf Coast so she could be close to home.

Her memorial was held at a Tampa church. More than 1,000 people attended even though the church only holds 400.

Taaffe is survived by her parents, an older brother and younger twin sisters.

Robert Johnson, her family spokesman and a lawyer, said Sunday's charges surprised the family. Johnson said the family didn't plan any civil action against the men.

Taaffe's father, Malcolm, called her a "beautiful, beautiful girl" and said his family is struggling to deal with her death. He didn't want to judge Herrig and Curtin, saying that's the way his daughter would have preferred it.

"She would want us to celebrate her life, and she wouldn't want us to condemn those guys," Malcolm Taaffe told the Naples Daily News. "Everyone deserves a second chance."

Information from the Naples Daily News was used in this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691. News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos can be reached at (813) 314-5379 or slsodos@wfla.com.

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