Life wasn’t about relaxing for Frank Guinn. Run 30 miles a week? Sure. A 56-mile bike ride? No problem.
In the year before his death, the nine-year veteran of the Atlanta fire department competed in more than a dozen triathlons. But in April, two days before competing in an Ironman competition in New Orleans, Guinn was hit by a car as he rode his bicycle. Guinn, 36, died at the scene. His brother-in-law, who was riding with him, was critically injured and continues to recover.
On Friday, the man who hit Guinn, Howard Vidrine, pleaded guilty to gross negligent homicide and gross negligent battery. Guinn's wife, Kimberly, was in the courtroom when Vidrine, 34, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for killing her husband.
“It was bad enough having to go over there and giving my victim’s impact statement,” Kimberly Guinn said Monday night. “But he showed no remorse. None.”
The judge was considering a three-year sentence followed by two years of educating others about the dangers of distracted driving, but Vidrine wouldn’t accept responsibility for his actions when interviewed by state police, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman said Tuesday. Vidrine received the longer sentence instead.
Vidrine’s guilty plea allowed Guinn’s family to avoid the emotional pain of a trial. But the sentencing seemed a small punishment for what was taken from her family, Kimberly Guinn said. She is now raising the couple’s 8-year-old identical triplet daughters.
Sometimes, Guinn says she and her girls — Makenna, Issy and Alyssa — can’t help but cry. But Guinn, a Cobb County drama teacher, said she knows that’s not what her husband would’ve wanted.
“You have two options,” Guinn said. “You can lay down and cry your eyes out, or you can pick yourself up by your bootstraps and keep going. He wouldn’t want us to live sad.”
On Frank’s birthday, his daughters released Chinese lanterns into the sky over Lake Lanier. On Saturday, Kimberly turned 36. She and her sister celebrated by completing 36 random acts of kindness.
“I needed that,” Kimberly said.
It has been that type of kindness and compassion from the community and even strangers that Kimberly says has helped her family make it through.
“We’re doing OK,” she said. “As sad as it is, it has taught me that there is still good in this world. People are amazing and want to help.”
An online fundraising page, set up following Frank's death, continues to accept donations for the family. This Saturday, the Leatherheads Firefighter Motorcycle Club in Paulding County is hosting "Ride for Frank" to benefit the Guinn family. There is no registration fee, but donations will be accepted. The ride will begin at Harley-Davidson of Atlanta in Lithia Springs and end at the Hooters restaurant in Hiram. Registration begins at 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. ride.
Next April, Kimberly Guinn says she’ll return to New Orleans, only this time, she’ll be the one competing. She’s training for an Ironman competition of her own, and she’ll pick up where her husband left off.
One day, Guinn says she hopes she can create a permanent and positive legacy for her husband, and perhaps work to change laws to make roadways safer for bicyclists. Until then, she has a reminder for drivers.
“Pass them like you love them, and please give three feet,” she said.
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