The family of the Rochester man killed by a drunk driver in September speaks out after the verdict

ROCHESTER NY (WROC) – According to police, 51-year-old Gene Kulp, a truck driver for Sysco, stopped his semi-trailer on the side of the road in September to fix a mechanical problem.

Then 53-year-old Jeff Eden drove west on Lexington Avenue and struck Kulp, who was pinned between the car and the semi-trailer. Police pronounced Kulp dead at the scene.

On Tuesday, May 28, Jeff Eden was sentenced to one to three years in prison for second-degree vehicular manslaughter, third-degree driving without a license, and drunken driving.

Gene’s brother Chris Kulp said the family was present at the sentencing and felt justice had not been done.

“He’s going to prison for one to three years, but my family isn’t getting their father, brother or son back. We’re trying not to dwell on memories we don’t have. We just want to think about the years we were able to spend with him. But a life cut too short because of one person’s selfishness is what it really is,” Kulp said.

He believes that a longer prison sentence should be imposed for this crime.

He and his family have since purchased a billboard at 26 Griffith Street near Interstate 490 to draw attention to Gene’s death with the hashtag “Justice for Gene.”

He says his family wants to hear the stories of others going through a similar situation and hopes to be a voice for those who may not be heard.

He shared a message he wanted to convey to everyone in the community.

“Please, please, don’t drive under the influence and have to live with the thought that you did this to a family. Or that a family has to live this life because of a decision you made,” he said.

Kulp says the billboard will be up until June 8, the day after his brother’s birthday. The family plans to put up a billboard every year in Gene’s memory.