My heart breaks for the Lorea family. How many children have to die before it is realized that teen-agers have no business driving cars. A permit should be issued at 16 and a license at 18. This way when a child turns 18 he/she would have 2 years experience driving with an adult and at the same time the problem of teens cruising around in cars would be eliminated. May Marissa and every other teen not have died in vain...the laws must be changed!!

A Mom

This is just one more example of why the legal age to drive in Rhode Island should be raise to 21. I feel for the family's of this tragedy, accidents like this can and should be avoided with raising the age to operate a motor vehicle. Think back when you were a teenager, could you be trusted to operate a motor vehicle responsible, hardly.

This was just a very unfortunate accident. One that could have been avoided if the kids today would stop thinking that they are invincible. My heart goes out to all the families involved.

Lorea said he was unmoved by Besette’s courtroom tears. “He’d better start weeping,” he said. “He hasn’t even started weeping."
-------------------

I am sorry to read these words. Mr. Lorea's loss is huge, but to direct such vengeance against his own nephew, who was only 17 when he made a terrible mistake and who will live with his own guilt and memories for the rest of his life, seems particularly mean-spirited. I pray Mr. Lorea hope for justice without needing revenge.

I really feel for the Lorea family but to say these terrible things on televison about their own family member is really very said. In times like this they should all be grieving together as this is a very unfortunate and terrible accident. Think about how this young boy must feel. He has to live with this the rest of his life. I hope this family is seeking some much needed help. This must be so hard on the entire family. I feel for all of you.
Betty

Having seen how my son rode his bike as a kid when he didn't know I saw him, I refused to sign for him to get his license at age 16, so he didn't get it until he was 18. He lived.
Why do parents let their children drive? Maybe if they were held personally responsible for their kids' accidents, maybe if Bessette's parents were sitting in that courtroom chair in his stead, maybe then we would see fewer tragedies.
Lorea's comments are harsh, but if it had been my daughter that had been killed by a speed freak I would probably say the same thing. There is nothing that kid can do to make it up to the grieved parents. Nothing. It is unclear, though, why he is pleading not guilty. The article gives the impression that he definitely was driving the vehicle. That certainly sounds guilty to me. Perhaps that's why Lorea was so angry about his irresponsiblity.

Please be civil is what Projo asks, so civil I will be.

To Elizabeth, you have no idea what you are commenting on. Thankfully the "Press" has left this family alone and I hopr they continue to. But one comment from the family and someone like you is all over it to judge and criticize this poor father.
Let me just tell you that you couldn't be more WRONG in your "mean-spirited" assumption. The Lorea Family is a kind, loving, top knotch, well respected, giving family. They are living a nightmare, that unfortunately is not going to end.
Why don't you go back and read this story again, maybe you'll pick up on the fact that Marissa's family hasn't spoken with the accused because HE LAWYERED up and refuses to talk to this family.
They are pretty much being tortured. I don't think I would be as kind as they have been. But that is because of how kind they trully are, and they are being pushed.
I support this family and think of them hourly, never mind daily. And in the future, until you walk in someone elses shoes, you might want to keep your negative comments about victims and what they might say in an emotional moment to yourself.

In response to the comments made by Elizabeth. Shame on you. Have you ever lost a child ? Spend a day with the Lorea family and you will see the results of what Andrew Bessette's selfish actions have caused. They are desroyed. Their life will never be the same. Are you aware of the fact that Andrew was warned on that very day to be a more careful driver ? Are you aware that the girls he was trying to impress were begging him to slow down ? If that were your daughter he killed would you be "moved" by his tears. The Lorea family is not out for revenge as you so boldly put it, they are simply trying to cope with their sorrow of such a senseless tragedy.

My apologies to relatives and friends of the Loreas whom I may have offended. Everyone's pain is genuine, and of course I don't know all the details here.

I was reacting only to the content of Mr. Lorea's remarks.

There is a book called "Journey of Hope." The author was devastated when his elderly grandmother was murdered by a teenager seeking to rob a few dollars. Bill wanted revenge. But he had an epiphany: his hate was ruining *his* life. “I tell people that forgiving [the teenager] gave me a new philosophy of life — forgive a neighbor who complains about the noise, a driver who cuts you off.” Hanging on to anger and resentment is deadly, says Bill, “like a cancer.”

Another person whose young daughter was kidnapped and murdered on a camping trip says: “Those who retain a hateful, vindictive feeling only end up giving the offender another victim. Vengeance, hatred, resentment, grudge-bearing, even deliberate indifference, are death-dealing spirits that will take our lives as surely as Susie’s was taken from her.” Besides, she says, “Jesus made it very clear that if we don’t forgive those who harm us, God cannot forgive us our sins. We agree to that ‘contract’ every time we say the Our Father.”

Something to think about on Good Friday. Peace.

So many describe this tragedy as an accident. The definition of accident is: an unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally. There was nothing unintentional about this tragedy as Andrew chose to speed. A habit he seemed very proud of. This was a crime and justice should be sought.

This was not an accident, as another writer stated. Andrew chose to speed no one forced him to do so. The previous week my son and daughter were almost ran off that very same road by Andrew. My son addressed him about this and he began to laugh!! A few weeks prior that he almost hit my neighbor walking her dog as he spead down that very same road.It is really a shame that his parents neglected to see this when family had told them how Andrew was speeding around town. How very sad that the Lorea family had to pay the price for Andrews behavior. Maybe Andrews parents should pay the price with a stiff fine while Andrew goes to jail!!!
Sara

It was a horrible accident that started when the parents signed to allow for the permit and license. My daughter now 34 was just miserable when at 16 I told her that she would have a job and the money saved for her insurance before I would sign off for her license. She thought that was UNFAIR and ended up getting her license at 19 after she moved out of the house. She lived and now agrees that she wasn't responsible enough then and at 19 still should have been limited on her license as she had 2 accidents and 3 tickets within a month during her first year of driving. Fortunately, her accidents were with stone walls and no one was hurt. My heart goes out to the entire family and I hope that someone will make sure that counseling is done by all to help the healing.

For those of you who say this was not an accident, you are mistaken. As previously commented, "The definition of accident is: an unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally." Certainly the speed was intentional, but running off the road and murdering his family member was most certainly unintentional. In other words, Bessette's goal getting behind the wheel of his vehicle was not to murder his cousin.

Recently in my area, there was a gruesome murder of an old woman inside her own home by a teenage neighbor. The boy was seeking drug money. The family of the deceased openly forgave the boy, stating that they may have lost their grandmother, but the family of the boy lost their son. The man even offered to pay for the boy's attorney. Truthfully, I believe this is the way it should be. As human beings, we are not invincible and we do make mistakes. Andrew Bessette's mistake just happened to be on a larger scale and involved the death of a loved one. Forgiveness is absolutely necessary in order to continue with one's life and grieve properly. You don't have to forget, but do forgive. Like Elizabeth said, by holding in your anger you are merely creating one more victim.

I'm praying for both families involved.

To "j": Maybe your daughter is just a bad driver? How do you hit 2 stone walls? And how do you manage to get 3 tickets in a month? Wouldn't you learn from the first? To all drivers, and to our DMV: Please make it mandatory for licensed drivers to take road tests every 5 years.