For Kristin Bosch, sophomore in pre-business, first came the shocking news of Dec. 3.

Her friend and roommate, ISU junior Kelly Laughery, had been killed in a hit-and-run collision walking along Mortensen Road.

Later came the surprise and anger of learning the punishment for leaving the scene of an accident like the one that killed her Sigma Kappa sorority sister was an aggravated misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $1,500 to $5,000.

Nearly six months later, on April 21, Gov. Tom Vilsack signed into law a measure strengthening Iowa’s hit-and-run penalties that had been introduced to the legislature by Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, in early February.

Leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident in Iowa is now considered a Class D Felony, punishable by a maximum prison term of up to five years and a fine of $750 to $7,500.

The new penalties will take effect July 1.

“I thought it was ridiculous for someone to be able to kill my friend and [be charged with only a misdemeanor],” Bosch said. “It is more legal to sell drugs than it is to hit someone with a car and kill someone.

“It was just really hard for us to think that our friend had just been hit – somebody could hit somebody, and not even be punished severely for it.”

Heddens introduced the bill to the Iowa House in early February, spurred on in part by Laughery’s death.

She said she had been contacted prior to early December and had become concerned by Iowa’s relatively lax hit-and-run penalties.

The death of the young woman in her hometown made the need for more stringent consequences all the more apparent, Heddens said.

“I was surprised that was the penalty and felt we needed to strengthen it,” she said. “By increasing the penalty, does that always make someone stop? Maybe not, but it is my hope.”

If anything, Heddens said she hopes the new, stiffer punishments will cause people who injure someone in a car accident to “take responsibility” and contact local police soon after a crash.

“Minutes can mean a difference [in saving a life]”, she said.

Heddens and Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, both said they were pleased the measure passed through the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Vilsack.

“I think what we’ve done is to realize that in terms of the judicial punishments available, they were not adequate to the severity of the crime,” Quirmbach said.

“Now, if people become aware of that, and if that inclines people to stop and report an accident if they should be involved, then I suppose that is positive. But there is nothing positive about the young lady’s death.”

Shanda Munn, junior in pre-journalism and mass communication, is the alleged driver of the 1992 Buick Century that hit Laughery Dec. 3, 2005.

However, she will not be subject to the new penalties because the accident occurred prior to the law taking effect.

Munn pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. Her trial is set to begin May 23.

The signing into law of harsher penalties and Munn’s upcoming trial are steps toward healing the wounds caused by Laughery’s untimely death, Bosch said.

“Kelly was only 20 and had so much going for her,” she said.

“And then it all stopped. It will be nice for her family to finally get some closure.”