Timothy Wright Accident

Bail reduced for Lawrence woman charged in OUI fatal crash

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LAWRENCE — A Superior Court judge dropped bail from $50,000 to $12,500 for a 21-year-old Lawrence woman charged after a double-fatal accident on Interstate 93 in Andover earlier this month.

If Shayna Fernandez makes bail she will be under 24-hour-per-day house arrest, cannot drive or drink alcohol and must wear an electronic monitoring device, Judge Timothy Feeley ordered yesterday.

Fernandez was charged with drunken driving, motor vehicle homicide, negligent operation and speeding after the 6:55 a.m. crash on June 11 that killed Francis O'Hanley Jr., 62, of Saugus, and his passenger, Joseph Coppola, 57, of Malden.

While prosecutor Michael Patten asked to keep the $50,000 bail in place, Feeley agreed to drop the bail and impose the house arrest at 1131 Essex St. in Lawrence, where Fernandez lives with her mother.

Feeley also told her she must submit to random alcohol screens by the Lawrence District Court probation department and that she must stay away from the families of the accident victims.

Stephen Wright, Fernandez's attorney, could not be reached for comment yesterday. It was unclear if she made bail yesterday and returned home.

Fernandez works as a personal care assistant for her severely disabled younger sister, Wright said at her June 14 arraignment in Lawrence District Court. Wright also said Fernandez did not feel the accident was her fault and noted she cooperated with police.

Fernandez admitted to state police that at 4:30 that morning — two hours before the deadly crash occurred — she was drinking beer.

"Oh God, I killed them all," she tearfully told a trooper.

She is accused of driving an Acura RSX at a high rate of speed, possibly 90 mph, in the far left lane of I-93 northbound near the River Road exit when her car hit a 1993 Chevy S-10 Blazer that Hanley was driving.

NuthinButGospel: New Music: Timothy Wright Memorial Choir - The ...

In January of 2003, Rev. Wright reunited The NY Fellowship Mass Choir after 10 years. The sold out event took place at the 2,500 seat sanctuary of The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Queens, NY on April 28, 2003 resulting in the Grammy and Stellar Award nominated "Live in New York" featuring the timeless hit "For the Rest of My Life". In 2005, Rev. Wright and the choir recorded their 2nd offering "Let's Celebrate: He is Risen" featuring the title track.  Wright and the choir returned in 2007 to release their Grammy and numerous Stellar Award nominated CD "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" which was the final project before the car accident that took the life of Wright's wife, Co-Pastor Betty Wright and grandson Daniel "D.J." Wright, and left Rev. Wright with numerous injuries that ultimately led to his passing. After the death of Rev. Wright, his son, David Wright not only took over as Pastor of the church that his father and mother co-pastored, but also took over the helm as the leader of the choir after it was unanimously decided that they could not let the legacy of "The Godfather of Gospel Music" end.  Thus, The Timothy Wright Memorial Choir was formed comprised of some of the members of The New York Fellowship Choir and the original Timothy Wright Concert Choir.  This aggregation of anointed and professional singers and musicians are determined to continue the spiritual and musical excellence of Rev. Timothy Wright, while keeping the integrity of his music and his memory alive for many generations to come.  The choir recorded their first music project since the death of Rev. Timothy Wright in June of 2010.  The new CD is titled "Pastor David Wright presents: The Timothy Wright Memorial Choir....The Legacy Continues" and features the smash single "God Has Been So Good".  Upon the release of the new cd the choir will embark on a nationwide tour promoting the project, and letting people know that the spirit and rich musical heritage of Rev. Timothy Wright lives on.

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