Mary Ashton’s world turned upside down, after losing her oldest son.
“I miss my son, he should still be alive. His life was snatched from him and I am one angry mother,” said Ashton.
Michael Ukaj brought so many laughs into his mom’s life.
“The biggest thing about Michael was he was a wise guy. He just had a great sense of humor,” remembers his mother.
Ashton watched him grow, exploring the world around him. She says Ukaj was free going and adventurous. He showed bravery from a young age, and defined it as a combat marine, serving in Iraq.
“When 9/11 happened, holy cow! He kept saying, I want to get out there. I have to get in there and help our country,” said Ashton.
However, his life was cut short, alongside 19 others, when a limo crashed in Schoharie in October of 2018. The limousine was on its way to a brewery in Cooperstown when it ran through an intersection and crashed near a country store. It was Ukaj’s 34th birthday.
“He certainly did give his all for his country, just to come back to go to a birthday party to try to be safe in a limousine, and now he’s dead,” said Ashton.
Since then, the operator of Prestige Limousine, Nauman Hussain, has been indicted on 20 counts of negligent homicide and manslaughter. Lawyers have stated that the vehicle should have never been on the road.
The vehicle had failed multiple inspections, including one just months before the crash. However, Ukaj’s parents are afraid they may not see justice for their son.
“If a person or persons screwed up somewhere, we’re negligent and caused this crash, there needs to be consequences,” said Ashton.
The couple lives in Maine, about nine hours away from where the proceedings are taking place. The trial was slated to begin in May, but has been postponed due to the coronavirus. Wednesday, a pre-trial conference was held virtually, due to COVID-19. Ashton says the families weren’t allowed to attend or listen.
Hussain’s Defense Attorney, Lee Kindlon, says it’s typical for families not to be involved with the conferences because the District Attorney should be representing their wishes.
But the family says they’ve been left in the dark, by not being properly informed about a possible plea deal for Hussain. Ashton said she asked the Schoharie District Attorney, Susan Mallery, ‘I want a yes or no answer’ regarding a plea deal; Ashton says she responded with ‘yes.’
The family's attorney, Brian Premo, said the family expected and wanted a trial in the criminal case for the Schoharie limo crash.
“I think this has been a problem possibly right from the very beginning. And we’re just kind of a little more entrenched in it now,” said Mary Ashton’s husband, Kyle.
Ashton says families were always aware of a possibility of a plea deal, but it seemed like a last resort, until now.
“It was presented in a way that we should be prepared just in case it happened to go that way. Now it appears that the plea deal is being pushed,” said Mary.
Premo announced Friday, the Ashtons were asked to prepare a victim impact statement, indicating a plea bargain could be underway for Hussain, as part of a “pre-plea investigation.” However, they are still holding out hope for a trial, to be able to see justice for Michael and the 19 other victims.
“I think it’s very, very, very important for all parties involved to look us in the eye and for us to be able to say ‘my loved one is dead because of your negligence.’ That’s what I want to have happened. They need to be called to accountability,” she added.
Instead, they’re fighting for more than a conviction. They’re fighting for the truth and they’re fighting for their son.
“We’re afraid their voices are not going to be heard, we are going to make sure that they are heard. They cannot speak for themselves, so it’s up to us,” the couple said.
Spectrum News has reached out to Mallery for comment, however, she has not returned our calls.