CLEVELAND – On September 3, a Columbus man recorded and posted a video in which admits that he was responsible for the drunken driving death of Vincent Canzani on June 22. Matthew Cordle opens the video with a chilling line: “I killed a man.”
Cordle goes on to describe in detail the events of that night including blacking out after drinking too much but still deciding to drive home. He says he went the wrong way down the highway, directly into oncoming traffic, striking a car and killing the 61-year-old Canzani. Cordle adds “this video will serve as my confession.”
According to the video. lawyers advised Cordle of ways to lie such that he could avoid or reduce charges. But Cordle says he would not dishonor the memory of Canzani or his family, and that he takes full responsibility.
The video was posted on a site called “Because I Said I would” which aims to highlight the importance of the dedication to a promise. The site’s Alex Sheen posted a message that Matthew made the video against legal advice but to raise awareness about the consequences drunken driving can have on innocent people.
“I’m begging you, please don’t drink and drive,” Cordle says in the video. “Don’t make the same excuses I did.”
Watch the video below.