It was supposed to be the happiest of times for four Pennsylvania teenagers two summers ago. They were celebrating at a friend's high school graduation party in June 2010, with alcohol provided by the mother of the graduated student. When the four teenagers headed home after the party, their vehicle careened off the road and the resulting car accident killed three of them and injured the fourth.

The police said that the 19-year-old driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.147. That is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08, but for underage drivers in Pennsylvania, the legal limit is 0.02. The driver and another 19-year-old - who had a 0.127 blood alcohol level - died in the car accident, as well as an 18-year-old whose blood alcohol content was not released. The fourth student, who recovered from the injuries sustained in the wreck, had a 0.084 blood alcohol level.

The 60-year-old mother bought a half-keg for the party and she pleaded guilty last week to a total of 25 charges related to the fatal car accident. They include four charges each of reckless endangerment and corruption of minors, and 17 additional charges of furnishing alcohol to minors. A maximum of 45 years in prison is the punishment facing the woman, who wrote letters of condolences to the families of the three victims.

Clearly the 60-year-old feels sorrow over the car accident that she admitted to playing a part in. Still, it was a negligent, and seemingly willful, act that is unacceptable. The families of the victims in this story certainly have the grounds for a lawsuit.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Salem Township mother guilty of providing alcohol to teens," Rich Cholodofsky, Jan. 24, 2012