Karri Benoir who drove into traffic and killed a young dad faces murder charge

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Karri Benoir, 23, intentionally drove across the grass divide on Interstate 89 in Ontario County, New York, on July 30, say authorities
Hit Brendon Cousino, an EMT with three young daughters
He was driving to Costco to get his daughter Sophia, nine, a Minions cake for her birthday - the same day as his own birthday
A funding page set up for the family has already raised $46,000
His widow Heidi said: 'How do I raise these girls without his silly influence and rock-steady support?
Benoir, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt, was badly injured in the crash

Published: 03:17 EST, 7 August 2015 | Updated: 08:17 EST, 7 August 2015

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A woman who reportedly drove into oncoming traffic in a failed suicide attempt and killed a 30-year-old man is facing a murder charge.

Karri Benoir, 23, wanted to kill herself when she veered into the other lane of traffic in the town of Richmond, Ontario County, New York, on July 30, police say.

Benoir, who is from Vermont, drove across the grass divide between the two lanes and hit Brendon Cousino, a married father of three young daughters: Sophia, nine, Liliana, six, and Amelia, four.

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'Suicide attempt': Karri Benoir, 23 (seen in a Faceboom photo), wanted to kill herself when she veered into the other lane of traffic in the town of Richmond, Ontario County, New York, according to authorities

Killed: Brendon Cousino, a married father of three daughters, died when Benoir plowed into his car nose-first

Family man: Brendon with his wife Heidi and daughters Amelia, four, Sophia, nine and Liliana, six

Scene: Cousino was found dead behind the wheel, while Benoir, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from her vehicle and discovered near the wreckage (pictured) with serious injuries

Karri Benoir faces murder charge after suicidal car crash

He was found dead behind the wheel, while Benoir, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected and discovered near the wreckage with serious injuries, reported the Daily News.

Cousino, who was an EMT, had been driving to Costco to buy his eldest daughter Sophia a birthday cake for her party on Saturday. She turned nine on Sunday - the same day her father would have turned 31, according to the Burlington Free Press.

His widow Heidi said her husband had told her: 'I promised her a Minion cake, and a Minion cake there shall be.'

Benoir could be arraigned in court from her hospital bed at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she is recovering from her injuries.

The crash happened on Interstate 89. A third car hit Cousino's 1999 Honda Civic after Benoir reportedly slammed head-on into him, although the driver of the other car was uninjured.

Cousino's death has sent shockwaves through his home town of Richmond, which has rallied behind the family and set up a funding page to offer them some financial support.

Donations have already topped $46,000 (£30,000).

Cousino in a family photo and in his emergency medical technician uniform. His widow said of his death: 'How do you face life without your best friend in the whole world?

Karri Benoir on mental health issues in commencement speech

On a post in the GoFundMe page, his widow Heidi said: 'How do you face life without your best friend in the whole world?

'How do I raise these girls without his silly influence and rock steady support? I will miss him with every breath and every heartbeat.'

On Friday night she was seen wearing a T-shirt that bore the message: 'Some people have to wait their entire lives to meet their hero. I married mine.'

Benoir had a long history of mental health problems, which she laid out during a commencement speech in at the Community College of Vermont, where she was the student speaker in 2013.