http://www.nypost.com/seven/10212008/news/regionalnews/maniac_off_the_street_134568.htm

MANIAC OFF THE STREET
ROAD-RAGER CAGED

By LAURA ITALIANO

Last updated: 9:55 am
October 21, 2008
Posted: 4:08 am
October 21, 2008

Calling the crime "unforgivable," a Manhattan judge yesterday sentenced a New Jersey firefighter to nine years behind bars for a drunken road-rage chase that killed an off-duty cop.

On the night of the 2004 crash, Robert Derian - a 25-year-old volunteer firefighter from Upper Saddle River - had popped Xanax and downed enough rum and Cokes at an uptown party to raise his blood alcohol level to one-and-a-half times the legal limit.

Yet Derian still decided to turn the key in the ignition of his red Jeep Cherokee and speed home on the West Side Highway.

The last thing victim Eric Concepcion, a father of two young daughters, saw in his rear-view mirror as he rode his motorcycle that night may have been the words "Piccolo Diavolo," Italian for Little Devil, stenciled on the front of Derian's jeep as it barreled toward him.

At trial last spring, eyewitnesses had testified that Derian, apparently angered at seeing Concepcion pass him, had flicked on a set of blue flashing lights on his dashboard, and began weaving in and out of lanes, speeding after and ultimately mounting the back of the doomed cop's bike.

Concepcion was dragged - asphalt burning his body like a grindstone - up the highway the length of three football fields. He was then run over and literally spat out under the rear wheels of Derian's Jeep.

The tough sentence came despite Derian's tearful plea for forgiveness from his victim's family and colleagues at the 42nd Precinct, who filled the courtroom with row after row of blue uniforms.

"This was not an accident," the prosecutor argued yesterday. "This was a crime."

Agreed Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Bonnie Wittner, "It was avoidable, and it was unforgivable."

Justice served!

Too many people make the choice to drink and drive 

He deserves everything he gets, i agree justice has been served

  How the make the beast with two backs did he only get 9 years? I mean, I would hope that vehicular homicide would carry a heftier penalty than 9 years. I'm not up on the suggested sentencing for the various crimes, but that seems ridiculously low to me. I mean the guy was drunk driving & maliciously tried to the hurt the guy. That's poor form. Justice wasn't served in my eyes.

I'd have to agree with Cru.

Justice not fully served.   

Quotedrunken road-rage chase that killed an off-duty cop.

9 years...Whats the maximum? That quote right there, should be much much more than 9 years.

I wonder if it was part of a plea?