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Posted on Fri, Jan. 10, 2003 |   |
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Driver seeks to talk with victim's kin Star-Telegram Staff Writer The driver of the car that struck and killed a Bennigan's waitress last week in Irving is offering to meet with the victim's family to acknowledge her "responsibility and obligation" to them, her attorney said Thursday. Sarah Haven Foust, 18, of Irving is also seeking to have her $100,000 bail reduced to $25,000, said her attorney, David Scoggins of Mesquite. A bail-reduction hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Dallas County criminal district court. Foust is accused of driving the 1978 Chevrolet Nova that backed into Jennifer Michelle Sanchez, 20, on Jan. 3, leading to her death. She is accused of murder. "Sarah is willing to meet with the family if it is something they desire or need and certainly if it is something that will help them," Scoggins said. "She will answer any questions they have, and she will be preparing herself to accept their anger and their grief. "She is going to ask them to someday, somehow, some way give her forgiveness for her responsibility in what happened." The victim's father, Daniel Sanchez Jr., said he would be interested in speaking with Foust, but not right away. "Because it is an ongoing investigation, I think we will just pray about it," he said. "I think right now it's wise for us to wait. My heart goes out to this young lady, but right now it's a wait-and-see situation." Daniel Sanchez Jr. said he will not oppose a bail reduction for Foust. Jennifer Sanchez, a student at North Lake College and an Irving resident, was struck about 1:20 a.m. Jan. 3 in the parking lot of the restaurant in the 4300 block of West Airport Freeway. Four diners left Bennigan's without paying their $131.41 tab. Sanchez was struck while trying to write down the license plate number of their vehicle as it was leaving the parking lot. She died that afternoon in the recovery room of Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas after undergoing brain surgery. The three people who were in the car were arrested. Passengers David Wilson Thornton of Duncanville and Kortnie Ann Henson of Midlothian, both 19, are accused of theft of services, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Thornton paid his bail and was released. Henson remained in custody in Dallas on Thursday night. Police have identified the fourth member of the group as Michael John Prewitt, 26, of Duncanville, who was not in the car as it sped away. He was being sought for questioning Thursday night. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Prewitt didn't leave the table until a few minutes after the three others had departed. Scoggins did not say how Foust will plea, and he would not provide any information about his legal strategy. "Our position is we are not going to focus on her problems and her needs because the Sanchez family needs to be the focus of the public concern," he said. "Sarah will answer whatever questions they have because they shouldn't have to hear about their daughter secondhand." The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is investigating whether alcohol was sold to the three teen-agers while they were at Bennigan's. Criminal charges could be filed against anyone who served alcohol to minors, and administrative sanctions could be issued against the holder of the liquor license. Sgt. Chris Hamilton of the alcoholic beverage commission did not say how long the investigation might take, nor did he release specifics about the bill, including how many drinks were bought. "We're not going to do that until we get with Bennigan's and learn how to read their bill correctly," Hamilton said. "We wouldn't want to give misinformation out." Ben Tinsley, (817) 685-3821 btinsley@star-telegram.com |
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