TRAVERSE CITY— Sam Dekuiper was a recent graduate from Traverse City West -- he spent his time there playing both football and baseball.
Friday, Nicholas Schram from Lapeer County was sentenced to prison for hitting and killing Dekuiper.
The crash happened last May in Grand Traverse County when Schramm crossed the center line and hit Dekuiper head on.
Inside the truck Schram was driving were five other people--who were also hurt.
Nicholas Schram was wheeled into the Grand Traverse County Circuit courtroom where he quickly folded his hands and whispered to his lawyer who delivered an opening statement.
“I don’t want anybody here thinking that that this isn’t the worst tragedy that could ever happen,” said Schram’s attorney.
Five of Dekuiper’s friends and family delivered heart-wrenching impact statements that at times pleaded with the judge for the harshest sentence possible.
One of those statements came from Dekuiper’s mother Brenda Dekuiper who held a poster up to the courtroom displaying the wrecked car that was barely recognizable.
“Sam’s mangled and burned body is in this vehicle. You tell me where my son is in this vehicle. This is what happened to my son. You can see how charred and burned my son’s vehicle is. You can only imagine what it did to his body,”
Dekuiper’s sister Cassedy Dekuiper took to the podium to share that she is haunted by her brothers fatal car accident.
“I had a very vivid dream the morning of the crash. I was standing in front of his open casket, looking at him, starting to cry. Almost collapsing to the ground. I can physically feel my brothers lifeless body in my arms. I can picture his face right before he was killed.”
Dekuiper’s girlfriend Samantha Schermerhorn told the courtroom how she and Dekuiper looked forward to spending their lives together.
“Sam and I had our whole lives planned together, last summer, I thought we were going to enjoy one of the most exciting times in our lives, getting engaged, planning our wedding, instead we endured the horrific process of planning a funeral,” said Schermerhorn.
Schram was sentenced to a minimum of two years for both counts of reckless driving causing injury. When Schram was given a chance to speak, here’s what he had to say.
“I never intended to hurt him, never intended any harm and it pains me so deeply to see how much I have hurt so many people in and out of my life,” said Schram.
Another hearing will take place within 60 days to set restitution for the family.
