Two Monmouth U. students to hold a benefit for their friend seriously injured

Elizabeth Ricciardi, 21, of Manalapan and Lauren Philippi, 24, of Elmwood Park, Bergen County, are cohosting an evening of food, entertainment and education about preventing drunken driving. The April 30 event will help defray the medical expenses of their friend Melissa Pinheiro of South Brunswick, who was critically injured in a Dec. 28 accident. Police say the other driver was legally drunk and ran a red light when the crash occurred.

The event, open only to Monmouth University students, is named for Pinheiro's cousin, Kylie Pinheiro, who died in the accident, according to authorities.

Monmouth University in West Long Branch is cohosting the event, which also will spread awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving, Ricciardi and Philippi said.

At the event, they will introduce "Kylie's Cause," a group they have formed to help victims of drunk drivers through annual benefits, Ricciardi and Philippi said.

A Monmouth University senior, Pinheiro, 21, along with her sister, Heather Pinheiro, 20, a Rutgers University student, and their cousin, Kylie, 18, of South Brunswick, a freshman at High Point University, N.C., were home on winter break last December. Heather Pinheiro was driving her Honda Civic east on Black Horse Lane in South Brunswick when the accident occurred around 3 a.m., Philippi said. Melissa was sitting in the back seat, and Kylie was in the passenger seat, she said.

The other driver, Kimberly Green, 32, of Somerset was indicted April 4 on a number of charges, including aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault and assault by automobile, according to Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Sewitch. Green has pleaded not guilty, authorities said.

Green's blood alcohol level was at least .159 percent, nearly twice the legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to authorities.

Melissa spent eleven days and Heather five days hospitalized in intensive care, Philippi said.

"Melissa's condition was considered catastrophic. Both girls had to take this semester off. Heather had a lacerated liver, concussion, broken ribs, and Melissa basically broke her whole left side, collar, wrist, pelvis, and tail bone," she said.

To help their friend and in honor of her cousin, Ricciardi and Philippi are selling Simple Shower rubber bracelets (in the likes of the Lance Armstrong "Livestrong" wristbands) that say on the pink side, "Do It for Kylie" and on the blue side, "Don't Drink and Drive."

"Kylie loved pink so everything we do has a pink theme," Ricciardi said. The bracelets were ordered online and paid for out of their pocket money.