Candlelight Vigil Planned To Remember Victims, Jan 26

January 24, 2000

University Park, Pa. -- A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Atherton Street along the Penn State campus to draw attention to the problem of drunk driving in the community and in particular to draw attention to an accident along the road in December that resulted in serious injury to a Penn State student.

The vigil is scheduled for 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, near the intersection of Atherton Street near Pollock Road. People attending the vigil are invited to meet in 112 Walker Building between 6:30 and 7 p.m.

Gina Cancelliere, who was scheduled to graduate this spring, was allegedly struck by an auto on December 1, driven by a man now charged with drunk driving. She is missing classes this semester as she continues to recover from the accident.

It is one of several recent cases where individuals have been charged with drunk driving in accidents that have killed or injured Penn State students and faculty.

Lee Grenci, a meteorologist with Penn State and academic adviser to Cancelliere, is organizing the vigil.

"There are dozens of students who have come forward to tell me they want to be part of this because they have concerns about the number of innocent people being killed and injured by drunk drivers," Grenci said. "By speaking up we can show our support for the police agencies who have the difficult task of trying to keep us safe from these drivers.

"We can also let our legislators and our courts know that drunk driving deaths are not accidents, they need to be treated seriously," Grenci said.

Approximately 600 Pennsylvanians die each year in alcohol-related traffic accidents.

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