Maria's Crusade For Justice

Maria's Crusade For Justice

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Story Published: Feb 23, 2005 at 10:40 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:52 AM PDT

By Keith Eldridge

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OLYMPIA - The incredible recovery of Maria Federici took a step forward as she made a visit to the state capitol Wednesday. This week marked the one-year anniversary of her near-fatal accident where she was hit by road debris.

Plenty of people testify at hearings at the state legislature, but few have the impact of Maria.

SB 5457 is a bill that would toughen penalties and to get financial assistance for those who are hurt in accidents like Maria's.

Maria was there Wednesday to support the bill that carries her name. But she did not come to testify. It's just too emotional for her. Instead, her mother Robin did the talking.

Maria doesn't have to say anything to get her message across. Her badly injured face tells the story. It is the story of how a beautiful young woman's life was turned upside down by a piece of furniture that toppled out of a trailer and crashed right through her windshield.

The driver who lost the furniture, James Hefly, only got a traffic ticket. That is all the law would allow. Maria hopes to change that law and make it a gross misdemeanor.

It would not only stiffen the punishment to up to a year in jail, it would also make the victim eligible for help from the state's Crime Victim's Compensation Fund. It's money Maria is not eligible to receive.

Before the hearing she told KOMO 4 News, "I need to be seen so that people can understand it better. I can't think of how to say it exactly, but they need to know that it's not just something you hear about and 'oh, there she is.' It's a hard one, but I need to be here to support her and make sure this works, it happens."

"I've come more than close to losing her," said Maria's mother Robin Abel. "I did lose her and got her back a year ago today. So, to be here one year from her new birthday, it's a big deal to us to know that we can make a change for other people. It's about the only good thing we can take away."

The Senate Judiciary Committee immediately voted in favor of the bill. It's now getting the fast track. Lawmakers say it's the least they can do for a young woman who's shown so much courage and strength.

For More Information On SB 5457:

www.leg.wa.gov

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