After nearly a year of "indescribable" grief, two Silver Springs families say they are relieved the man they believed killed their loved ones in an alleged drunken-driving accident has been charged in their deaths.
"I think we're on some sort of a natural high," Gloria Marek said Thursday, reacting to the news that Mark Fejervary, 48, will be tried for the deaths of her father, Harold Marek, 63, son Robert Marek, 16, and neighbor Louis Norton.
The men were killed July 31, 2002, when their vehicle was struck at the intersection of Fir Avenue and Highway 95A in Silver Springs by Fejervary's car.
"Hopefully it will go before a jury." Marek added.
Marek and the Norton family were outraged that no charges were filed against Fejervary, who was believed to have had a .25 blood alcohol level at the time of the accident.
That all changed, July 29, when, after an independent accident investigation, Lyon County District Attorney Leon Aberasturi formally charged the Silver Springs man.
Fejervary is expected to be tried on three felony counts of driving under the influence causing death or three alternate counts of reckless driving causing death, one felony count of third offense drunken driving, one felony count of third offense driving while intoxicated and one count of felony third offense driving while having a blood alcohol level of .10 or more.
He was convicted in March 2001 of drunken driving and again in May, 10 months after the accident.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 31, 2002, Fejervary neglected to obey the speed limit, to obey the rules on overtaking vehicles on the left or to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle in the intersection -- all while being under the influence of alcohol.
"This is a little good news," Gloria Marek said. "Hopefully, this man gets the time he deserves. He was drunk, and he had no right to be on the road."
Louis Norton's father said the news that Fejervary was being charged was a relief, but it didn't ease his pain much.
"I would say we feel relieved. The DA has finally made the right decision," Bruce Norton said. "But there's no justice here yet. Without justice, there's no peace, and the suffering never ends."
Fejervary is expected to appear in Dayton Justice Court on Sept. 24.
