Sound Shore

Hernan Kenny, the Pelham Manor young man whose leg was almost amputated by an admitted drunken driver Sept. 2, 2008, is doing well after finishing his first semester at Long Island University’s C. W. Post campus.
His mother, Lorena Kenny, said he put on some “freshman weight,” and considering the brace had been taken off his leg only two weeks before starting school, he did well.
“He is so determined;I am so proud of him,” she said.
Desmond Shand, of the Bronx, pleaded guilty to an 11-count indictment in November and will be sentenced in White Plains County Court Jan. 8.
Lorena Kenny plans to be in court and, if the timing does not interfere with Hernan’s school schedule, he will be there too.
Read Rebecca Baker’s Nov. 5 story below:

Bronx man pleads guilty in crash that nearly severed Pelham teens leg

The Bronx man accused of drunken driving and nearly severing a Pelham teen’s leg 14 months ago pleaded guilty to all charges after months of plea bargaining.

Desmond Shand pleaded guilty Wednesday in Westchester County Court to the entire 11-count indictment, with a sentencing promise of two years in state prison, said his attorney, Mayo Bartlett.

Shand was charged with assault and vehicular assault, both felonies; and leaving the scene, driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, all misdemeanors, and traffic violations.

Prosecutors said Shand was fleeing an accident with a bicyclist Sept. 2, 2008, when he broadsided a Jeep driven by then-Pelham Memorial High School senior Hernan Kenny at Plymouth Road and Townsend Avenue in Pelham. Kenny’s leg was partially amputated at the knee.

Kenny has had more than a dozen operations to repair his shattered tibia. Kenny, now 19, is a freshman at Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus.

The bicyclist, struck on Pelham Parkway in Pelham Manor, was not badly injured.

Shand will be sentenced Jan. 8 by Westchester County Judge Robert DiBella.