NORWICH – There was barely a dry eye in the courtroom at the Monday sentencing of a young Greene man convicted of killing his best friend in a one-vehicle fatal car crash last spring.
On Oct. 6, Bradley Goodrich, 23, Greene, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second degree – a class C felony – and driving while intoxicated, a class E felony.
It was alleged that on March 7, at approximately 2 a.m., Goodrich was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier on Hogsback Road near County Road 32 in Greene when he veered off the road, striking a utility pole. Goodrich was intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of more than .08 of one percent of alcohol.
The passenger of the vehicle, Brandon Archer, 23, was killed upon impact. He suffered traumatic internal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.
Goodrich was airlifted to UHS Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City for treatment of his internal injuries, from which he fully recovered.
Brandon Archer's friends and family attended Goodrich's sentencing Monday. The victim's mother, Laurie Elmore, and sister, Nicole Archer, read statements before Goodrich was sentenced.
Elmore said she was going about her normal routine on March 7 when she heard her son may have been in an accident with his best friend. She called hospitals and authorities to find out where her son was and if he was okay.
“The only one in the hospital was you, Brad,” said Elmore to Goodrich. “When the police pulled up, I knew my son Brandon was gone.”
The victim's mother told Goodrich that he made the wrong choice getting behind the wheel of the car and that he has hurt many people with his decision. She said it deeply affects her and that there is an “empty space inside of her” from the loss of her son that will never be filled. She also mentioned that Goodrich never called to apologize.
“I cannot forgive you for taking away my only son, your best friend, while you go on with your life,” added Elmore to Goodrich. “I still cry as much as the day it happened and do not laugh as much as I did before the accident.”
Nicole Archer said her 9-year-old son was extremely close to her baby brother and it was difficult to have to tell him that his uncle was gone. She also said she did not know what exactly happened the night of the accident.
“All I know is that Brad was driving drunk, did a 180 and hit a utility pole,” said Nicole Archer. “He survived, while my brother took the full beating and died.”
The victim's sister said Brandon Archer was the “glue that held the family together” and that he was “kind-hearted.” She said eight months later the family is still deeply hurting and has negative feelings towards Goodrich. She added, “Please let justice be served so that my brother's life meant something.”
First Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese said Goodrich taking responsibility and the grief he caused the family were considered in the sentence offered.
“What began as two friends going out on a Thursday night turned tragic,” said Ferrarese. “The defendant was highly intoxicated and hit a pole with such force that the vehicle actually split in half.”
Ferrarese also said not only is the victim's family going to miss Brandon Archer but that Goodrich will miss him as well. “When you look in the mirror, you will see you're the reason you lost your friend,” added Ferrarese.
The First ADA said Goodrich is a young man and will have time to think about what he was done and hopefully come out of prison “a better man.” He added that society will have to realize that you cannot operate a vehicle while intoxicated because it is “dangerous.”
Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. asked Goodrich if he had anything to say on his behalf. “I am sorry for what happened. It was an accident. I wish I could take it back every day,” said Goodrich.
Revoir said he agreed with everything Ferrarese said. “It never gives me pleasure to send anyone to prison, and I wish Brandon could still be here,” said Revoir. “Maybe you can make a difference in the world when you get out.”
Goodrich was sentenced to three to nine years at the New York State Department of Corrections for his manslaughter charge, one to three years concurrently for his DWI charge and one year conditional discharge upon his release.