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Cemetery Recreates Historic Gate Destroyed By Drunk Driver

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Surveillance video shows the incredible destruction -- in an instant, the cast-iron gates to the Allegheny Cemetery were shattered.

Behind the wheel was a drunken driver, who miraculously avoided serious injury but destroyed 170 years of history, dealing a devastating blow to the cemetery.

"It was a very traumatic event for the cemetery and it's taken us a long time for us to get to where we are today," said David Michener with the Allegheny Cemetery.

A year and half later, the tale of destruction has come to an end, with the installation of a new gate replicating the original which had stood since 1844.

"Each section weighs 1,500 pounds. It's made of solid iron. From the fleur de lis to each panel of the gate. It's almost an exact replica," Michener said.

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The hundreds of scattered pieces couldn't be fused together, so metal designer Harmar Denny had to lay them out on a grid and make a detailed pattern. he then turned it over to Gabriel Thimons of Custom Manufacturing in Lawrenceville, who spent three months of machining and milling a new gate matching the original craftsmanship.

"That shows what they did back then and knowing that I can match their work. that's prideful. I'm pretty happy about that," Thimons said.

The gate will cost $65,000 which the cemetery is still trying to recoup from the insurance company of Danne Olivis -- the convicted driver responsible. David Michener says Olivis still hasn't paid a dime of her court-ordered restitution of $5,000 but he'd rather not dwell on that now.

"We're going to leave that up to the courts," Michener said.

And focus instead on the gate's return.

Sheehan: Must be very satisfying.
Michener: It is very satisfying not just for the cemetery but for the people who walk through the gates every day and the community. People have all been asking us when are the gates coming back.

The gates have been long time coming and not a moment too soon. They'll open again on Monday to welcome the Memorial Day Parade and service at the cemetery.

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