By Marianne Paton
Pine Island Eagle
04/30/08

Following months of phone calls and letters to various public officials, charter fishing captain John “Giddyup” Bunch has nearly realized his goal of making car owners who lend their vehicles to unlicensed drivers more accountable.

Following the death of an Iraq war veteran who died in a hit-and-run crash in North Fort Myers, Bunch was determined to add to current legislation that makes it a misdemeanor to lend a vehicle to a person with a suspended drivers license. He approached Sen. Burt Saunders, asking that a one-year license suspension, with the possibility of jail time, be added to the law. The bill passed the Florida Senate earlier this month and Wednesday, it also passed in the House.

Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to sign the bill.

The “Beougher Bill” was named for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Beougher, who died Dec. 8. Beougher was killed on Hancock Bridge Parkway when a truck police say was driven by Ashley East crossed into his lane of traffic, striking his Jeep, killing him, and leaving his wife Lauren critically injured. East, who officials say had a .089 blood alcohol content and was unlicensed when the crash occurred, reportedly fled the scene on foot also leaving behind a female passenger in the truck she is alleged to have borrowed. East was eventually arrested in New Jersey and extradited to Lee County, where she faces numerous charges, including DUI manslaughter.

Saunders and State Rep. Gary Aubuchon are credited with bringing the proposed amendment to Tallahassee in hope of seeing it passed into Florida law.

Saunders has said Bunch was instrumental in bringing the proposed amendment to the attention of lawmakers and politicians.
 

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