MILFORD, N.H. (WHDH) - The grief-stricken family of a 21-year-old woman who was killed last weekend in a suspected drunken driving crash involving a Londonderry police officer is speaking out and calling for justice.
Sierra Croteau, of Manchester, was on her way home from celebrating her acceptance to nursing school at her parents’ house Saturday night when she was killed in a crash with officer Tyler Berry, who was later arrested on a drunken-driving charge.
“We have been robbed of even walking her down the aisle on her wedding day. Or even giving us grandchildren,” Croteau’s father, Joseph Houle, said through tears.
Croteau graduated from Milford, New Hampshire High School in 2016, became a licensed nursing assistant and dreamed of becoming a labor and delivery nurse.
A dream her parents had no doubt she would achieve.
“Sierra you see was never a quitter,” Houle said. “If Sierra didn’t pass a test the first time around she took it again until she succeeded. She never gave up until she owned it.”
Police say Croteau was on Route 101 in Amherst when Berry who was off-duty, crossed the center line in his pick-up truck and struck her car head-on.
“This meant we would never see her again, hug her again, give her a kiss, tell her we love her, how much she means to us, how proud we hare of her,” Houle said while recalling the night state troopers told he and his wife Croteau had died. “We will never be able to do this.”
Her parents say they are furious that 27-year-old Berry has been suspended with pay after he was arrested in the hospital for allegedly driving drunk the night Croteau died.
“Being a police officer, you took the oath to protect and serve, not to protect and kill,” Houle said. “You did this and you are still getting paid after you killed our innocent daughter.”
Funeral services are set for tonight.
Her family says they will fight for justice for the daughter they say was taken too soon.
Berry is facing an aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol charge and is set to face a judge next week.
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