Two Men Get Six Years for Race in Lake Forest That Turned Deadly

Two men who were racing motorcycles in Lake Forest nearly three years ago when one of them crashed into a sports car, killing the driver, were both sentenced today to six years in prison.

Daniel Cody Burkett, 27, of Santa Ana, and Blaise Aaron Meadows, 22, of Orange, were traveling faster than 100 mph on the Foothill Transportation Corridor at 12:30 a.m. on April 25, 2008, when Burkett's two-wheeler crashed into the back of an Alfa Romeo.

The car veered off the tollway and slammed into a light pole before flipping onto its roof and landing in a parking lot, said Deputy District Attorney Susan Price. The driver, 46-year-old Andrew Parker, died at the scene.

Meadows, who flew off his motorcycle and rolled onto the tollway's shoulder, was hospitalized with broken bones, while Burkett fled, she said.

Burkett pleaded guilty Jan. 18 to gross vehicular manslaughter while Meadows pleaded guilty in January 2010 to felony gross vehicular manslaughter and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license.

The two agreed to plead guilty in exchange for the six-year sentences.

Parker's wife, Mary Ann Rattay, told Orange County Superior Court Judge Stephanie George that the two were together for 25 years and married for 22.

"He was my spouse, soul mate, best friend and rock, but, most importantly, he was an amazing father to our son,'' she said. "My heart is broken in ways I never could have imagined ... And I had to accept that my life will never be the same.''

Rattay described her husband as a "true Renaissance man'' who worked
hard and owned a machine shop in Santa Ana.

He was the guy's guy who could fix or make anything work,'' she said. "He loved jazz and classical music, but he was always up for going to a Tool or Social Distortion concert with his other crazy middle-aged friends.''

She criticized Burkett and Meadows for dragging out the court case, and said they never showed any signs of remorse.

"They have no idea what they took from us,'' Rattay said.

Parker's son recalled how he was pulled out of class in his senior year of high school to be told of his father's death. He told the judge how father and son learned to snowboard together and reminisced about shopping for Christmas trees every year.

"He and I would run around and around to find the best tree,'' Shane Parker said. "He was the greatest man I've ever known and I will miss him every day for the rest of my life.''

Burkett and Meadows both read written apologies to the families.

Burkett mumbled in a monotone as he began reading his apology, but started to choke up when he said he feared going to prison.

"I'm truly remorseful and saddened about what happened,'' he said. "I have no words that can make it better ... I am so truly sorry. I wish I could take that day back, but, unfortunately, life doesn't work that way.''

He went on to say, "I will carry this tragedy with me for the rest of my life. I'm scared of going to prison, but I recognize the consequences of my actions. I know I will be judged here in this courtroom and by God.''

Meadows said he was "truly sorry I caused your family so much pain. I hope you can someday forgive me, but I know an apology is not enough.''

Outside the courtroom, Rattay said she was unmoved by the apologies.

"It's been three years. If you're going to apologize, then look me in the face and say you're sorry,'' she said. "I think they just regret going to prison. I don't think they understand what it's like to lose the center of your universe.''

Some friends and family members of the defendants sought Rattay out after the hearing to apologize.

The judge told the families to try their best to move on, saying Parker would have wanted it that way since he enjoyed making others happy.

"To the defendants,'' George continued, "you really need to spend your ... years [behind bars] thinking about what you can do to be productive members of society. To sit there and feel sorry for yourself would be a terrible waste. As the district attorney said, you brought this on yourselves.''

Burkett was on probation at the time of the crash for a misdemeanor conviction in 2007 for evading police, Price said.

After the crash, Burkett talked to Meadows briefly before riding away, and he called friends and family on his cell phone while riding home, the prosecutor said.

Meadows exchanged instant messages with friends a half-hour before the crash about wanting to egg on a high-speed chase with police, Price said. Meadows' license had been suspended because of four tickets—three for speeding and one for running a red light.

—Paul Anderson, City News Service