By Rick Pfeiffer<br><a href="mailto:pfeifferr@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Rick</a>
Two people have been charged in connection with an accident that took the life of a woman who ran a well-known Niagara Falls deli for decades.
Debbra Romanelli, 25, and Dennis Daigle, 25, both of Youngstown, have each been charged with misdemeanor reckless driving. Romanelli had previously been issued several traffic tickets in connection with the accident.
The head-on collision occurred on March 3 on Route 104 in the Town of Lewiston and took the life of Mary Louise Demarchi, 70, of Lewiston. Demarchi was the long-time owner of McLeod’s Deli on Cleveland Avenue.
State Police investigators said Romanelli was driving her 2000 Pontiac Grand AM westbound, when it crossed over into the oncoming lane and struck a 2008 Toyota Matrix being driven by Demarchi.
Demarchi was rushed to the Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight, but died there from her injuries.
Romanelli suffered a broken ankle and Daigle, broke his thumb. Both were treated at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital.
Investigators said there was no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, but they did say that actions by both Romanelli and Daigle contributed to the crash.
“(Romanelli) was driving recklessly and (Daigle) grabbed the (steering wheel), which also contributed to the crash,” Trooper Rebecca Gibbons, a State Police spokeswoman, said. “Because both their actions helped to cause the crash, they were both charged.”
In 2005, Demarchi sold McLeod’s to the city. The landmark sandwich shop, which had been in Demarchi’s family for 60 years, was demolished to make way for the construction of the new Public Safety Building.
