Traverse City Record-Eagle

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July 3, 2009

Man gets year for killing girlfriend in crash

Connell-Sanford was badly hurt in January accident

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- Richard K. Connell-Sanford clutched a cane and slowly limped to the podium in 13th Circuit Court.

He can't stand for long periods, so judge Philip E. Rodgers let him sit in a chair next to his defense attorney. Connell-Sanford, 24, was badly injured in a Jan. 2 traffic crash on Garfield Road near Potter Road.

The crash killed Kira Kirchler, 24, of Traverse City, and Connell-Sanford was in court to be sentenced on a negligent homicide count.

Authorities said Connell-Sanford was driving too fast for conditions when he crossed the center line and collided with an oncoming tractor-semi trailer.

Kirchler, a passenger in Connell-Sanford's vehicle, died at Munson Medical Center Jan. 5.

Rodgers sentenced Connell-Sanford to a year in jail and five years of probation. He pleaded no contest to the charge in May, and a second count of operating with a suspended license causing death was dismissed.

Kirchler and Connell-Sanford were returning from Jackson when the crash occurred, according to a police report. Roads were snow-covered and slippery at the time, and a witness driving behind their Subaru said it began "spinning out of control" before the collision.

Randy Smith, Connell-Sanford's court-appointed attorney, characterized the incident as "unfortunate."

"There was no intention to harm Kira or cause an accident or anything else," he said. "It's just something that happened."

Connell-Sanford told Rodgers he doesn't remember the crash.

"I don't know what to say," he said. "My girlfriend died in this accident, and I still don't know how to deal with that. I'm lost."

Kirchler's mother, Sheryl Patterson, tearfully spoke to Rodgers.

"Everyone needs to know that this was her chance to make a life," Patterson said. "She was going to school; she was out on her own."

Rodgers said that although Connell-Sanford didn't intend to harm anyone and wasn't under the influence, he still wasn't driving appropriately for the conditions.

"You obviously weren't going slowly enough," he said.

Kirchler, a graduate of Suttons Bay High School, was working on her veterinary technician degree, according to obituary information provided to the Record-Eagle. She loved animals and spent much time at the Cherryland Humane Society.

Secretary of State records show Connell-Sanford's license has been suspended since December 2005 after he failed to pay a driver responsibility fee tied to a 2004 ticket for operating without insurance.

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