Friday, August 20, 1999
Driver in worst DUI set to be released
Drunk driver caused Carrollton school bus fire
BY KAREN SAMPLES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Larry Mahoney
|
FRANKFORT, Ky. — On Sept. 1, the nation's most notorious drunken driver will walk out of prison.
His recklessness cost the lives of 27 people. Bill Nichols' only child was one of them.
Mr. Nichols intends to have a good day on Sept. 1. He forgave Larry Mahoney years ago.
“We have put it behind us,” says Mr. Nichols, who lives in Elizabethown. “We have moved forward, and we're not going back to that time.”
On May 14, 1988, Mr. Mahoney was driving his pickup the wrong way on Interstate 71 in Carroll County when he struck a church bus. It burst into flames, killing 27 people. Most were children returning home to Hardin County from a day at Kings Island.
Mr. Mahoney received a 16-year sentence. With credit for good behavior and the education he received in prison, his term will end next month, after nine years and seven months.
In 1997, Mr. Mahoney was turned down for parole. Last year, he declined to seek it again, instead choosing to serve out his time. He has declined requests for interviews.
“He served his time, and I hope he does well in life,” says Mr. Nichols. “He could be a help to people, especially those who drink and drive.”
As part of an Indiana court program, Mr. Nichols speaks occasionally to drunken drivers, emphasizing the consequences of their actions.
The speeches are a way to honor his son Billy's memory and help others. It's a positive way to look back. Hating Larry Mahoney isn't, Mr. Nichols says.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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