By Lindsay Liepman
WINK TV
03/13/08

WINK News has new developments in the story of a young soldier killed on his way home for the holidays. His wife was seriously injured in the hit and run. Investigators say the driver who is responsible didn't have a drivers license.

Viewers like you took action and wrote their lawmakers about the Danny Beougher Bill. Now a Southwest Florida Senator has signed on.

A personal crusade for Capt. John Bunch is paying off and he won't give up until the Beougher Bill becomes law.

"Tougher is the key word because it is no longer going to be a free lunch if you callously, and irresponsibly loan your car out to someone with no driver's license," said Capt. Bunch.

Ashley East is accused of driving her boyfriend's truck and hitting the Beougher's. East has been arrested for the hit and run and driving without a license. But the Beougher family says if she wasn't given the keys, Danny Beougher would still be alive.

The bill would suspend the driver's license of a person who allows an unlicensed driver to get behind the wheel of their vehicle and cause an accident.

The suspension would last a year, much tougher than the current law.

"This is to send a message, you can not let people drive in vehicles if they don't have a license," said Sen. Burt Saunders.

Southwest Florida Senator Burt Saunders is taking the bill to Tallahassee.

"Unfortunately, people will continue to loan their cars to people who don't have driver's licenses but at least under this law, the consequences are much more significant," said Sen. Saunders.

"There's nothing that we can do to bring Danny back. A man that fought three tours, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. But what we're going to do is move forward on his behalf to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else," said Capt. Bunch.

This is only the first step, but the Beougher family is very encouraged. They are so thankful, and they want to ask the community to get behind this effort and contact their local representatives.

Meantime, the Beougher's attorney says they are still waiting for drunk driving charges to be filed against Ashley East, who they believe was drinking the night Danny died.

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