Rosemary Tempel, 56, was an artistic and compassionate individual, who served others as a Seattle trauma nurse, and placed family above all else. On July 17, 2012, all who knew Rosemary lost an incredible being and companion in a fatal and entirely preventable multivehicle crash.

The driver who killed her had marijuana in his system but also just outside his SUV at the site of the eight-car crash, a result of his swerving into oncoming traffic in order to avoid a head-on collision while on his way to work. The driver was only sentenced to 4 ½ years in prison, despite the severity of the crash, three previous reckless driving convictions, all originally DUIs, and an extensive criminal history.

Rosemary’s family and dear friends not only suffer the loss of this great soul, but struggle to understand such an injustice. The perpetrator’s sentence of 4 ½ years will be reduced to only 3 years by way of assumed good behavior, which will then be reduced even further by six months to reacclimatize himself in society while staying in a halfway house. Final jail time for the murder of Rosemary Tempel: 2 ½ years.

Drugged driving is a violent crime despite the court’s refusal to prosecute to the full extent of the law. Rosemary’s family, particularly her brother, Phillip Drum, continue to seek far more from our justice system.