Alison Martinelli - Too Young & Innocent to Die

I received a telephone call from my daughter Natalie last Friday morning. She was calling from her cell phone from Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, where she goes to school learning to be a Hair Stylist, etc. She asked me to pick her up, explaining that she was not feeling well. I told her ok, and promptly left the Home Depot in Clifton Heights and my basket full of electrical stuff. I then fought the traffic on 291 and then in South Philly to reach her. She got into the bucket truck that I was driving and told me about her friend and classmate Alison Martinelli from Drexel Hill who was killed in a car accident a few weeks ago. She was in tears and freaked out about it. I tried to console her to no avail.




I had read about it in the Daily Times shortly after it happened and felt sick myself that such a young woman could meet a tragic death because of being served booze at a place that she worked at. I never knew beforehand that my daughter even knew her, let alone was friends with Alison and due to graduate this July. My daughter heard rumors and so did I that Alison's Dad warned the staff at the Bryan Street Pub where She worked NOT to serve her booze several times before. 19 years old, for Christ sakes! The same age as my daughter. God I sit here with my gut torn out, feeling badly for her Parents. I feel horrible for Alison's Mom and Dad, and her family, Boyfriend, and many, many friends. I also feel angry toward who ever served her the booze. No wonder that the owners of the Bryan Street Pub were asked to NOT attend the funeral services. But this all is rumored mind you. I also read that she did NOT drink at Bryan Street. I do not know the facts, but I do know that because of SOMEONE serving or buying this woman booze, She is DEAD. Does this bother you?




To most of you who read this, probably not. Well it bothers me! I am taking Natalie up to where the crash happened to lay flowers there at Her request. Maybe She can find solace for the loss of her friend where she was too upset to attend Alison's viewing & funeral. So what happens next? Criminal charges? Civil charges? All will NOT bring back this gifted, beautiful young woman. It just makes my blood boil on another senseless death. People need to be held accountable here! I am no angel myself. I got in some trouble of my own in the past. A bad time in my life, I'll explain it some other time. (There is no reason though to drive drunk mind you).




Thank God I never hurt anyone but myself. What gets me is that the current BAC to get a legal consumer of alcohol in trouble in the state of Pennsylvania is 0.8. In most fatal DWI related automobile crashes the average BAC is over point 14. MADD, or Mothers Against Drunk Drivers want ZERO BAC while driving. To me this is non attainable, short of banning booze altogether. I have an idea. What needs to be done is to hold the bars and clubs in Delaware county accountable, both criminally & civilly. There should be a license for bartending in the state that INCLUDES being aware of customers who should not be allowed to drive a motor vehicle due to excessive consumption. Check your keys at the bar, just like checking your guns in Carson City, years ago. Maybe I am grasping at straws, but this hits really close to home, so I chose to post about it. In closing: To Alison's parents and family, I am at a loss of words for you. I can only imagine your pain. I am sorry for your loss and have and will pray for you and your Daughter.