HONESDALE — Hilda Reck, 71, of Lake Ariel was sentenced Thursday to one to five years in Wayne County Prison on three charges stemming from a January 8th, 2008 hit-and-run of a 13 year-old girl. 

“I’ve been praying for you and your family every night,” Reck said, addressing the victim.

The sentence followed a passionate plea by both Reck and her attorney, A.G. Howell to take into consideration the treatment she has sought while incarcerated for the last 134 days.  “My client is sorry and just doesn’t want to pass away in prison,” Howell said. 

The incident occurred when the teenager went out to her mailbox to get her mail on Route 191.  Reck, who was heavily under the influence of alcohol, was driving to the store for more alcohol and cigarettes, so she stated in court. 

When police arrived on the scene, witnesses described the “striking vehicle” and a search was conducted of the surrounding area for a car matching the description.
Such a vehicle was located at Weis Market on Route 590 in Salem Township, a bore the same front, passenger-side damage that witnesses described.  Police then discovered blonde hair on the passenger-side windshield. 

After finding Reck, police detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and, after administering a pre-breath test, Reck was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital, where her B.A.C. was determined to be 0.18 percent, twice the legal limit.

Reck claims that over 30 hours she only had three beers and one shot of whiskey, but because of liver damage, was extremely intoxicated and doesn’t remember the incident.

Judge Hamlin told Reck that she was “in drug-dependent denial”.

Aside from the prison sentence, which is to be served consecutive to a sentence she is currently serving for Pike County, Reck was also ordered to pay $2071.84 in restitution, a small percentage of the over $100k in hospital bills that were covered by insurance, the hospital, and charity.

The teenage victim survived the incident, although she sustained serious injuries and was airlifted before police even arrived.

Reck claims she never drinks and drives and never breaks the law.  Of that, Judge Hamlin said, “I believe you drink in the morning, during the day, and at night, and anytime you drive you are a dangerous weapon, and breaking the law.”