GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A woman killed by a drunken driver in September on East Beltline Avenue also lost her husband in 2021 because of a drunken driver, her sister told a judge.
Danielle Duran talked about her sister, 54-year-old Clarissa Duran, on Wednesday, May 31, during a sentencing hearing for the man responsible for her death.
Brian Christopher Parks, 21, was sentenced to three to 15 years in prison for operating while intoxicated causing death. His blood-alcohol level was 0.199.
Police said both Duran and Parks were headed north on East Beltline Avenue NE, near Knapp Street, about 8 p.m. Sept. 30. Parks vehicle rear-ended Duran’s vehicle, causing it to roll. She was ejected and died.
Witnesses told police that Parks had been driving recklessly prior to the crash. One witness said they had to pull off to the side of the road to avoid being run in to. In the collision aftermath, police found an empty bottle of vodka on the dashboard of Parks’ vehicle. It appeared vodka had splashed on the inside of the vehicle.
During the Wednesday sentencing hearing, Danielle Duran told how Clarissa Duran and her husband lived in New Mexico prior to 2021. That was the year her husband died in a cash involving a drunken driver, she said. Both drivers died.
Clarissa Duran ended up moving to Michigan where, according to her sister, she found opportunity working for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s campaign.
“She was doing that with many of her co-workers who felt that she had brought light and life to their work and lives,” Danielle Duran said. “My sister always did things like that. She was always working hard for everything.”
The night of the crash on East Beltline Avenue, Clarissa Duran was likely headed back to her home, her sister said.
Parks, given a chance to speak, apologized for his actions.
“I an extremely sorry to Clarissa and her family for this tragic accident,” he said. “I cannot fathom what her family has gone through.”
Judge Paul Denenfeld, before issuing the sentence, noted that Parks only had one misdemeanor on his record -- a 2019 minor-in-possession offense.
“I’ve been doing this job a long time and when I see that, it tells me that Mr. Parks has likely struggled with substance abuse for some time,” he said.
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