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One of the members of our Life Group knows the Kornfields. Their son was killed by a car, while riding a bicycle in Colorado. Here is the link to the story from The Daily Camera:
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(Link to an earlier story)

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Thorpe is 'remorseful'

Teenager will help build memorial to dead cyclist

By Vanessa Miller, Camera Staff Writer
December 3, 2005

As a glassy-eyed Chandler Thorpe stood just steps away from the sobbing widow of Scott Kornfield, who he killed after falling asleep at the wheel six months ago, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Thorpe, 17, turned to face Kornfield's mother, Rainy Kornfield. She grabbed him, and they wept together in a tight embrace in a packed Boulder County district courtroom Friday.

"Anything I say or do seems so futile and insignificant in light of what I've done," Thorpe told the court between gasps and sobs. "All I can do is express how deeply remorseful and sorry I am for my actions. I'm so sorry."

Thorpe was sentenced Friday to one year of probation and 150 hours of community service. He was ordered to meet with Kornfield's family as part of a restorative justice program.

Following that process, Thorpe will place a memorial sign along U.S. 36 north of Broadway. That's where he drove his Ford Explorer off the road the morning of May 30. The car hit and killed Kornfield, 28, of Thornton, who was out for a bicycle ride.

Thorpe, a Boulder High School senior and member of the National Honor Society, also must complete school and continue meeting with a counselor.

Paul McCormick, Thorpe's attorney, placed his hand on the teenager's shoulder after Friday's sentencing.

"This stage is over," he said.

Thorpe will begin meeting with Kornfield's family in about a month. During those sessions, the Kornfields will help design the memorial, McCormick said. Thorpe also will speak at Boulder High and other area schools about his experience and the dangers of driving while tired as part of his community service.

"This is a 17-year-old kid who asks himself, 'Why couldn't I have died that day instead of Scott?'" McCormick told the court Friday. "One wonderful adult caused the death of another wonderful adult."

McCormick said Nate Llerandi, the 36-year-old who was riding with Kornfield the morning of his death, and Boulder County Deputy District Attorney Bruce Langer have volunteered to participate in panel discussions at the schools.

"Both sides are coming forward to help," McCormick said, adding that the hugging, crying and commiserating that took place after Friday's sentencing is rare.

"This is an amazing thing, what's going on here," he said. "It's an example of the system doing something good."

Before Thorpe's sentencing, the room of sobbing friends and family watched a silent slide show that flashed pictures of Kornfield hugging his mom; Kornfield standing along Paris' Champs Elysees during the Tour de France; Kornfield with his new wife, Kristyn.

"I still talk to Scott," Kristyn Kornfield, 26, said. "I tell him how sorry I am that he won't be able to live out his dreams and goals."

Dreams of running for Congress, getting a dog and naming it Sam, moving to the mountains to raise a family and participating in next year's Louisville Legacy Triathlon.

"And going to nice dinners with me," she said.

Kristyn Kornfield stressed that Thorpe's poor decisions took her husband's life and changed hers forever.

"He made the choice to drink at a party, stay up all night and then get behind the wheel," she said. "It took an embankment to wake him up."

Shaun Leslie was Scott Kornfield's best friend. The pair went to college in New Hampshire together, moved to Colorado together and bought houses next to each other. They both were recently married, and on Leslie's wedding day, Kornfield was at his side. Leslie said that's the last memory he has of his best friend.

"My new wife and I were just five days into our honeymoon, on a ship between Italy and Greece, when we received the news of Scott's death," Leslie said. "All the praying, wishing, crying, pain and anger in this world isn't going to bring him back."

And so the family is focusing on the good times they had with Kornfield and on Thorpe's future.

"I don't feel like a victim," said Kornfield's father, Gary. "In spite of losing my son, I feel very lucky. I got to spend 29 years with Scott. And he was a wonderful young man."

Gary Kornfield said there are no "good" or "bad" sides in this case.

"Just people involved in a tragedy," he said. "We lost a terrific person in Scott, and I think it's important Chandler has an opportunity to move on."

That is what his son would have wanted, Kornfield said.

"I hope Scott can be an inspiration to Chandler," he said.

Thorpe's mother, Julie, said her son wants to share his experience to prevent others from repeating his mistakes.

"I still can't believe something like this has happened to all of us," she said. "I'm so sorry our lives have intersected in this way."

Contact Camera Staff Writer Vanessa Miller at (303) 473-1329 or millerv@dailycamera.com.