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Posted on 11/30/2004 1:06:47 PM PST by Tarpaulin
A father who authorities say let his unlicensed 14-year-old daughter drive his SUV faces felony charges after she crashed following a visit to a nightclub, injuring herself and two friends.
The prosecutor hopes the case will send a message to other parents.
"A vehicle can be just as deadly as a firearm," Assistant Harris County District Attorney Warren Diepraam said today. "As a parent you've got a responsibility to protect your child."
Charged Sunday with criminal negligence, Barry Martin Holste, 53, was released from jail this morning after he posted a $30,000 bond.
Danielle Holste, 14, was driving her father's SUV on Thanksgiving when she lost control on a Southwest Freeway exit ramp about 10:30 p.m., Diepraam said.
The accident sent Danielle Holste and two friends, both 15, to the hospital. Danielle Holste has since been released with a leg cast, Diepraam said. The other two teens remain in intensive care, one with a broken neck and the other with bleeding in the brain that has caused seizures, he said.
Barry Holste arrived at the scene of the accident not long after it happened and spoke with Houston police officers there, Diepraam said.
Those police officers brought the case to Diepraam, who handles most of his office's vehicular homicide cases. Diepraam said the case will probably go to a grand jury in mid-December or January.
"Young people need experience and proper training before they're allowed to drive," Diepraam said. "Mr. Holste knew she never had any legal training and allowed her to take the car anyway."
Further, Diepraam said, the girl was using her father's SUV to take her friends to, "one of the busiest spots in Houston." The trio had just left the Coco Loco club in the 5700 block of Hillcroft when the accident happened, he said.
"The consequences of his decision were quite serious," Diepraam said.
He said hospital records for all three have been subpoenaed, and will help determine whether any of the minors had consumed alcohol or drugs before the wreck.
What the heck does it matter if it was a SUV or a Geo Metro?
SUVs are a menace with a mind of their own!
Damnit, now SUVs are luring 14 year old girls into crashing them!
The father is just covering up for the SUV. It threatened the entire family if he didn't take the rap.
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A 14 year old girl doesnt have the mental capacity to manage an SUV. In fact, NOBODY does! Our telepathy isnt as strong as those liberal elitists who own and "drive" SUVs - or do they move them with their minds?
The other two teens remain in intensive care, one with a broken neck and the other with bleeding in the brain that has caused seizures, he said.
I agree! Note that the article addresses the father as a "DAD" instead of a "DA" (dumb arse)!
More media bias. Everybody knows that SUVs are blood thirsty killing machines that drive THEMSELVES. Clearly, either the report is wrong or the girl is covering for the SUV.
I smell a conspiracy.
This guy is an A-1 assh*le.
My daughter drove all the farm trucks, grain bins, combines, and tractors legally on the highway at 14 years off age. There is no magic age of responsibility. As proven of course by the father here.
Good grief! All the maroons are in a rush to either extinguish themselves or make national level asses of themselves before Xmas.
Daddy probably thought that was OK too.
He must have been in a drunken stupor when he allowed his kid to do this, Now for the real bad part. His insyrance isnt going to pay squat on this accident, They dont have a legal responsibility to pay off when the car is allowed to be used by an unlicensed driver. Stand by for the law suits daddy.
There's a difference. A big one, pardon the pun. An SUV doesn't necessarily drive, brake and/or handle like a passenger car. And most drivers of SUVs seem to be unaware of that, hence the problem.
It's OK...she started going at 12, but didn't drink until she was 13 and mature enough to handle it. ;)
"This guy is an A-1 assh*le."
the lawyers - right?
I was driving solo at 12 as do MANY southern rural children. Maybe it's only non-southeners who cannot take responsibility for themselves before they're 18 ?
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