Mother sues driver accused of murder in high speed collision; Objects to judge's bond reduction

Donald Friese of Collinsville, already facing a murder charge from a collision at 100 miles per hour, now faces a wrongful death suit.

Lisa Ferrarie-Darron of Caseyville, whose daughter Mercedes Ferrarie-Troisi died last year at age 18, sued Friese and three others in St. Clair County circuit court on July 11.

George Albers, of Roth Law Offices in Granite City, wrote that Friese drove at an excessive speed and failed to control his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Friese allegedly chased a Buick LeSabre in a GMC Yukon and struck the Buick, causing it to crash at Collinsville Road and 47th Street in Fairmont City.

Last year, state’s attorney Brendan Kelly charged Friese with murder or action creating a strong possibility of killing or injuring another.

Ferrarie-Darron also seeks damages from Dennis Torres of St. Louis, owner of the Yukon.
Albers wrote that Torres created an unreasonable risk of harm to others by giving control of his vehicle to Friese.

“Dennis Torres knew Donald Friese was an unlawful driver. Dennis Torres knew Donald Friese was under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” the suit states.

Ferrarie-Darron also seeks damages from Gina Torres of Collinsville, a passenger in the Yukon and Friese’s fiance.

Albers wrote that Gina Torres hit the Buick with objects, threatened Buick driver Brandy Hayes of Collinsville, and told Friese to drive unlawfully.

Ferrarie-Darron also seeks wrongful death damages and punitive damages from Hayes.

Albers wrote that Hayes sped and violated a duty of ordinary care while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Friese has remained in jail since the crash.

He would occupy a cell in a federal prison today, if the U.S. Congress hadn’t helped him out.

In 2008, he agreed to serve 10 years and five months for conspiring to possess more than five grams of crack cocaine.

In 2011, Congress passed a law eliminating differences in sentencing between crack cocaine and powder.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission approved retroactive application of the law.

Friese asked for and received counsel to prepare a motion for reducing his sentence.

Reagan granted the motion in 2012, and he sealed the motion and the order. Court records don’t show his release date.

“He should have never been out,” said Ferrarie-Darron in an interview at her home.

She said he fled after the crash, and police found him after Mercedes’s funeral.

She said Kelly charged him with murder but not with fleeing or possessing drugs.

On June 12, Friese’s lawyer, Tania Aldaddah of Clayton, Mo., moved to reduce his $1 million bond.

Aldaddah wrote that if released, Friese would live with Gina Torres.

On June 18, associate judge Zina Cruse reduced bond to $300,000.

She reduced the necessary posting from 100 percent to 10 percent, slashing the amount Friese needed for release from $1 million to $30,000.

Ferrarie-Dannon said drug dealers can easily obtain $30,000.

“My daughter is dead and this piece of scum doesn’t have the right to walk the streets,” she said.

“The most he can get is 60 years. He took more than 60 years away from her.”