Posted on 11/16/2012 10:11:19 AM PST by grundle
The life of Xitclalli "Chilli" Vasquez, 9, took a tragic turn in the summer of 2011 when a drunk driver's car collided head-on with the car the Fort Worth, Texas, girl was riding in, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down.
Last week, on the day of convicted drunk driver Jeremy Solis's sentencing at Tarrant County Court, Vasquez had a chance to read him a letter she had written, a letter that brought Solis, the jury, and everyone present in the court room to tears, witnesses said.
The four-page handwritten letter presented to the jury was titled "From One of Your Victom." It explained how Vasquez was going to the mall with her sister "to get my hair cut and my nails done." That was all she could recall of the fateful day of the crash. "I don't remember the first several days. I could not talk, so I had to use my thumb to answer yes or no. While I was in UCLA I had very bad moments. They take xrays of me every day. Feed me through by gbutton. I had tubes through my mouth and nose."
"There were times that I would cry and cry
in therapy they showed me how to lift myself and dress myself. But right now it's still very hard. My mom does a lot for me but I try myself. There are days that I cry cause I can't do what I used to. Well, I could keep going but my hand is getting tired. I would like you to meet me and my family
there are days that are bad because I have a hard time getting around. "
(Excerpt) Read more at gma.yahoo.com ...
... an indomitable spirit ...
God bless this lovely young girl, in Jesus name.
“Real” men will say we don’t need no steenkin drunk driving laws. sarc/
You don’t really need a subsection of laws that deal specifically with drunk driving.
You just charge them under existing laws, starting with attempted murder if they are caught driving drunk. If they hit somebody, it’s attempted murder, plus whatever else you can rack up, related with careless driving.
Here in IL the DUI system is an utter joke. It’s designed to do nothing more than put money into the hands of lawyers and the coffers of the State.
Seriously, we should prohibit transportation so everyone can be safe, all the time. My buddy Larry died in a car accident on the snow: at least we could have “Larry’s Law” to prohibit driving in winter. Not that Americans are stupid, we just need help. Winter and Summer are no-gos, but otherwise OK with a seat-belt, county stickers, inspection stickers, emissions tests, children properly secured, only in CAFE standard approved vehicles, etc. Say, on Wednesdays pending good visibility, in spring. Plus taxes tags and registration fees.
You're supposed to feel good that you have it. Don't go screwing with it by asking if it actually works.
Seriously, we should prohibit transportation so everyone can be safe, all the time. My buddy Larry died in a car accident on the snow: at least we could have “Larry’s Law” to prohibit driving in winter. Not that Americans are stupid, we just need help. Winter and Summer are no-gos, but otherwise OK with a seat-belt, county stickers, inspection stickers, emissions tests, children properly secured, only in CAFE standard approved vehicles, etc. Say, on Wednesdays pending good visibility, in spring. Plus taxes tags and registration fees.
I agree. No laws. Just a bullet to the back of the head.
Unless it’s changed and I haven’t heard, there is no such thing as attempted murder in Texas. You either killed em or you didn’t.
Unless it’s changed and I haven’t heard, there is no such thing as attempted murder in Texas. You either killed em or you didn’t.
You're supposed to feel good that you have it. Don't go screwing with it by asking if it actually works.
You just charge them under existing laws, starting with attempted murder if they are caught driving drunk. If they hit somebody, its attempted murder,
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Attempt always requires intent, and proof of intent for a conviction. That can be difficult to do. What you are looking for is negligent homicide, negligent aggravated battery (what happened here) and so on. Otherwise I agree with you.
Just out of curiosity...did Solis have a license and insurance?
But we already do have drunk driving laws. This case would seem to show that they don't seem to solve the problem.
Texas Penal Code - Section 15.01. Criminal Attempt
God Bless her....I’m in tears...
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