By David Eck
Enquirer Contributor
WEST CHESTER - In a surprise move, a judge released a West Chester man from jail Monday after he served seven days of a 60-day jail sentence for driving recklessly before a crash that killed another young driver.
Patrick Edinger, 19, crossed a double yellow line and passed Dominic Broderick, an 18-year-old Lakota West senior, while they were both driving the same way on Beckett Road on Feb. 22. Moments later, Broderick crossed the double yellow line to pass Edinger as Edinger was legally turning left into an apartment complex parking lot.
Broderick's car crashed into Edinger's, killing Broderick. The crash happened minutes from Broderick's home. Police have said Broderick's blood alcohol level was almost six times the legal limit of .02 for anyone under the age of 21.
Butler County Area Court Judge Robert Hendrickson sentenced Edinger to six months in jail. But on Monday, at the request of Edinger's attorney, Hendrickson suspended the rest of the jail time and put Edinger on three years probation with several conditions, which include counseling for anger issues.
Though Broderick's mother urged Hendrickson to keep Edinger in jail, the judge noted that Edinger did not cause the crash:
"I don't see that he ultimately caused the death," Hendrickson said. "The victim was also involved."
Broderick's mother, Stephanie Broderick, asked the judge what had changed in a week that he would consider an early release.
"The fact that (Edinger) asked to be released just ... after his sentence began, tells us that he does not acknowledge his role in what happened."
Edinger apologized to Broderick's family.
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