“Liam’s Law” aims for tougher punishments for illegal street racers

GASTON CO., N.C. – “That phone call that night changed my life,” says mother Brandi Birrittier. She’s talking about the night she found her sweet, kind, funny, helpful six-year-old son Liam was killed here on US-74 in Gaston County in June 2021. She says, “Liam was the best.”

Street racers reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour crashed into each other that June night. 19-year-old Gracie Eaves hit 46-year-old Donnie Cobb, sending Cobb’s car 47 feet across the grass median, and right into Santiago Lagunas’ car. Liam was in the back seat, properly restrained. It didn’t matter. The impact was too much.

“Liam was in the roadway,” recalls now-retired North Carolina State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jason Goudelock. Goudelock was the primary investigator the night of the crash. He says he was stunned that Liam’s father survived. “I truly believe this is the reason he survived that collision. So that he can continue Liam’s legacy and memorialize him with this law,” says Goudelock.

Rep. John Torbett is sponsoring “Liam’s Law,” just filed on Thursday. He said, through tears, “With the passage of Liam’s Law, his name will be memorialized forever in the halls and the general statutes of our great state here in North Carolina.”

The law increases street racing-related charges from misdemeanors to felonies and makes it so prosecutors do not have to prove malice, only that a driver was racing. Gaston County District Attorney Travis Page says, “Their conduct endangers mothers, fathers, children. And we have seen and lived that firsthand in this family lives at every day.”

Liam’s dad says his son loved to help people. And now this bill in his name can help people, too, and protect them from street racers. Santiago Lagunas says, “Two irresponsible people…they (took) half of my life away from me.”

Cobb was also high the night of the crash on meth and sedatives. He’ll spend up to 28 years behind bars. Eaves will spend about five years behind bars. She’s due to get out next year. Liam’s family, and the people who helped craft Liam’s Law, ask you to call your legislators and voice your support if you want to see it signed into law.