Photo by Herald file
Somber moment: Ron Bersani, Melanie Powell’s grandfather, stands with her parents Tod and Nancy Powell on the day Melanie’s Law was put into effect.
Melanie Powell, the young Marshfield girl whose death forever changed drunken driving laws in Massachusetts, would have turned 18 next month and has a baby brother who a repeat drunken driver ensured she would never meet.
“Melanie would be a senior in high school this year. All her friends are graduating high school,” said the girl’s grandfather, Ron Bersani. “It’s a very hard time.”
Since Melanie’s death, her parents, Tod and Nancy Powell, have welcomed a baby boy named Spencer into the family. The 3-year-old never met his older sister but recognizes her from pictures he often sees in newspapers and on TV.
“He knows who she is. He knows her picture and knows how important she is. But he’s too young to understand,” Bersani said.
Bersani helped push through “Melanie’s Law” in honor of his granddaughter, who was struck and killed July 25, 2003, by a car driven by Pamela Murphy. Murphy, 53, had a previous OUI conviction and served two years for the 13-year-old girl’s death.
She also lost her license for 10 years. Reached at her Marshfield home yesterday, Murphy declined comment.
A tireless anti-drunken driving crusader, Bersani has become the issue’s public face in recent years, testifying on Beacon Hill, meeting with prosecutors and probation officials and continuing to dog lawmakers. He called flaws in the law “frustrating” but said overall he is encouraged by the effect Melanie’s Law has had in the Bay State.
“We just need to keep the word out there. We need to keep the pressure on,” he said.
He added that Melanie’s little brother has become a “joy” to the family, as well as a reminder of what’s at stake.
“We want to keep the roads safe for him,” he said.
Bitter flaw in Melanie’s law By Dave Wedge
Dozens of repeat drunken drivers are exploiting a gaping loophole in Melanie’s... More on:
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By Dave Wedge 
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