Remembering Peter

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Holidays and special occasions are particularly hard for Peter and Dolores Roberto, who lost a child in a hit-and-run accident a year ago.
"You never expect to spend your son’s birthday in a cemetery," Mrs. Roberto said.
Peter Roberto Jr. was 12 when he was killed last Thanksgiving night while crossing Harbison Avenue at Comly Street.
The Somerton youth, a seventh-grader at CCA Baldi Middle School, had just finished eating dinner at his grandmother’s Wissinoming home and was going for a walk with his cousin.
The boy was hit by a 2002 GMC Envoy and died at the scene.
The driver fled, but turned himself in later that night. William Halloran, of West Mayfair, faces charges of homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop after an accident. His trial is set for March 20.
"I’m angry that he left my son there," Dolores Roberto said.
Last week, the Roberto family and their friends gathered to memorialize Peter as the one-year anniversary of his death approached.
On Nov. 17 — coincidentally, it was Halloran’s 30th birthday — Peter’s loved ones came together near Harbison and Comly for a candlelight vigil. The crowd numbered up to 100.
The cold weather did not deter them from listening to soft music, writing messages to Peter on a poster board and listening to words of encouragement from the Rev. Anderson Porter, pastor of Wissinoming Presbyterian Church.
A 15th Police District car was parked in the right-hand lane of southbound Harbison Avenue to protect the crowd from the traffic. The posted speed limit is 30 mph. Few drivers go that slow on the curved thoroughfare with diagonal intersections.
"Harbison Avenue is like the Indy 500," Dolores Roberto said.
A memorial to Peter remains at a light pole at Harbison Avenue and Walker Street. It reads, "In loving memory of Peter C. Roberto. RIP."
The memorial features stuffed animals, roses, ribbons, candles, a baseball cap and a picture of Peter.
Michael Kindle, his best friend, was wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt with his buddy’s picture on it. He remembers a kid who was always smiling and laughing.
Another friend, Jim Kelly, stood by the memorial praying to Peter. He recalled him as a funny kid.
A cousin, Chris Macindoe, treasures the times they rode dirt bikes.
All of his family and friends — including older sisters Christine and Brittany and younger brother Anthony — are having trouble accepting his death.
"I miss him," said Joe Lock, 12.
Donna Macindoe, Peter’s aunt, said the large number of people — particularly children — who came to the vigil shows what kind of impact Peter had on others.
Macindoe said her family is tight knit and likes to celebrate holidays, birthdays and other special occasions together.
"It’s not the same," she said. "Peter’s not here no more. It’s never going to be the same. Never."
The Robertos and their extended family did not know how to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, so they decided to take an eight-day trip to Disney World.
While the last year has been tough on the family, they have found some ways to brighten their mood.
Lou Roberto, Peter’s cousin, built a Web site in his memory. The address is www.peterrobertojr.com
Dolores Roberto has found it therapeutic to share her story with families who’ve experienced the same kind of tragedy on a Web site forum dedicated to hit-and-run awareness.
The Robertos are heartened that Baldi has started a chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions and initiated the Peter Roberto Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Family, friends and neighbors have offered all kinds of help over the last year to the Robertos.
And the family has the support of local public safety advocate Gerald Lamparter. They’ve teamed with him to make suggestions for new and tougher state laws for hit-and-run and drunken drivers.
Their efforts are about to be rewarded. On Dec. 5, the state House of Representatives will vote on a bill sponsored by Rep. George Kenney (R-170th dist.) and two others that would increase from one year to three years the minimum sentence for leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
The Robertos pay close attention any time they hear of hit-and-run homicide cases, like the one that claimed the life of Manayunk teenager Kayla Peter.
"A year is a joke," Dolores Roberto said.
Added her husband: "They definitely have to increase the penalties."
The Robertos would like to see the penalty increased to seven years, but they will accept anything more than a year.
The state legislature settled on three years because that’s the minimum sentence for leaving the scene of a fatal accident while DUI.
Rep. Dave Reed, an Indiana County Republican, might amend House Bill 2136 to increase the penalties to five years.
State Sen. Mike Stack (D-5th dist.) has introduced a similar bill in the Senate and is also pushing the Peter Roberto Alert System, which would empower state and local police to conduct a public campaign to apprehend hit-and-run drivers. It’s modeled after the Amber Alert, a law-enforcement effort to locate missing children.
Kenney, who attended the vigil, said it’s a "no-brainer" to increase the penalties. Hit-and-run motorists have to be punished, he said, especially those who have been drinking and leave the scene so authorities can’t prove their blood-alcohol content.
"It’s unconscionable for a human being to hit somebody and take off," he said.
As Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve approach, the Robertos are hoping that motorists don’t drink and drive.
And, if drivers are involved in an accident that causes injury or death, the family hopes they stop.
"People really need to think about their actions and how they can affect people," Dolores Roberto said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com