Former Monroe and Perth Amboy official apologizes to DUI crash victims

• Ernest Feist is believed to have been driving as fast as 90 mph before he crossed over double yellow center lanes before his vehicle slammed into a sport utility vehicle head-on%2C became airborne%2C struck another vehicle and burst into flames.
• In June Feist pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by auto and drunken driven.
• Feist had consumed a bottle of wine and glass of tequila at a Monroe restaurant before the fiery crash. Feist had a blood-alcohol level of .205 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.
• The crash sent Feist and three other people to the hospital%2C including a Manalapan woman who had to be extricated from her sport utility vehicle.

NEW BRUNSWICK – Deborah Gross-Tulli walks with the assistance of a cane and struggles to find her new normal.

After spending nearly three weeks in the trauma unit at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick she woke up last year to find herself in the brain trauma unit at JFK Medical Center in Edison.

"My life was completely altered. I learned I had suffered more than 12 fractures and had undergone multiple surgeries and sustained a traumatic brain injury," Gross-Tulli, of Manalapan, said in a statement, read Thursday by Assistant Prosecutor Allysa Gambarella, about the injuries she sustained in a head on collision in Monroe last year.

"A drunk driver traveling more than 100 mph hit me during rush hour on a county road that had a 40 mph speed limit," Gross-Tulli's statement read.

Gross-Tulli sobbed as Gambarella read her statement about the June 4, 2013 high-speed, alcohol-fueled crash that seriously injured her and two others. Gross-Tulli was the most seriously injured and struggles to relearn the activities of daily living.

"My injuries are a result of Mr. Feist's criminal act," she said.

Her comments were one of three victim statements read moments before Ernest Feist, the former municipal engineer for Monroe and Perth Amboy, was sentenced Thursday by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Bradley Ferencz here to five years in state prison for three counts of assault by auto and drunken driving. Feist also was ordered to pay $33,000 in restitution to two of the victims. Gross-Tulli is scheduled to receive about $27,633.

Feist had been drinking wine and tequila for several hours before he got in his car traveling 102 mph, struck Gross-Tulli's vehicle head on, became airborne, struck another vehicle before his car burst into flames.

Gross-Tulli, whose husband Daniel Tulli also read an impact statement, said she's gone from someone who was independent to depending on others for her every need.

"I am not my former self," her statement read, adding she has post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and continues to undergo treatment.

"I have survived this violent criminal act which brought me so close to death. Determined to get back as much as I can, I will find my new normal," her statement read.

Stephanie Ciano of Manalapan, who is pregnant with her first child, also sobbed as Gambarella read her statement described the back and emotional pain she still suffers.

"I watched the driver of the Mercedes lay on the ground blood still streaming down his face and neck. I watched firefighters try every which way to get that poor woman out of her car to no avail. I watched them get the giant metal cutters to try to cut her out of the SUV. I watched as the back window of the SUV burst open from the pressure. I watched as they cut the roof off and lifted it into the tree that the SUV was pinned inside. I watched the medevac team take her out of the car. I sat there quietly watching it all tears running down my face," her statement said. "That night was one of the worst nights of my life."

She suffered a concussion, back and neck pain. The back pain sometimes causes pain while walking.

Ciano said it took a while before she could drive again. She would brake for nearly every oncoming car and drove below the speed limit. She has to pass the accident scene every day to and from work. A chunk of bark is missing from the tree struck by Gross-Tulli's SUV.

"I believe Mr. Feist should have known how reckless and thoughtless it was to drive while under the influence," her statement read. "I don't care who he is, his stature in the community or how many charities she supports. All of that is inconsequential when you act irresponsibly and put another person's life in danger. He should not have the power to take the joys of pregnancy away from me. He should not have the power to give me nightmares. I hope every day in his jail cell will serve as a constant reminder of the pain and suffering he has caused."

The courtroom was packed with many Feist supporters, his wife, Sylvie, his mother Gail, who is a former Perth Amboy official, other family members and friends.

"Ernie Feist is a good person who on June 4, 2013 did a bad thing," said Thomas Buck, Feist attorney, adding his client recognizes for the harm and injury he caused to Deborah Gross-Tulli, Stephanie Ciano and Jamie Scism, who was a passenger in Feist's vehicle. He said his actions on that day were an aberration of who he is. He said Feist has not had an alcoholic drink since the accident.

Douglas Dzema, Perth Amboy Housing Authority executive director, and longtime friend of Feist, and Shannon Cenci, director of engineer at Feist Engineering in Monroe, both talked about the work Feist has done in the community, particularly for St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen and for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Monroe. Cenci also noted the work Feist did to help people impacted by Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.

"There is no doubt drunk driving has a catastrophic effect. He is sorry. He wants to make a positive impact in the lives he hurt that day," said Cenci.

Feist, who had sat during the court proceeding with his hands folded in his lap, apologized to the victims and the court.

"It's true, it's my fault. I made a bad decision that day. I'm sorry. I know people were hurt ," Feist said as he turned to face the victims and their families. "I prayed for everyone hurt in the accident every day. I truly am sorry."

Feist, a Monroe resident, in June pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by auto and drunken driving. He had consumed a bottle of wine and a glass of tequila at a Monroe restaurant before the crash.

"By all accounts it was a lot of liquor and you knew," Ferencz said. He added Feist had started drinking at 1:30 p.m. and didn't stop until 5 p.m. running up a bill of $349.

Feist had a blood-alcohol level of .205 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.

Ferencz said the degree of intoxication and the speed of more than 100 mph all make his conduct more heinous.

"Your conduct, your speed simply can't be tolerated," Ferencz said.

Police records indicate Feist was driving more than 90 mph, crossed over the double yellow center lines before his Mercedes CLS slammed head-on into Gross-Tulli's sport utility vehicle on Hoffman Station Road pushing it into a tree. His car became airborne and truck Ciano's vehicle and burst into flames.

Gross-Tulli had to be extricated from her vehicle and flown to the hospital. Police pulled Feist and his passenger Scism from the burning vehicle. Scism did not appear in court for Feist sentencing.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335: srussell@mycentraljersey.com