There may be nothing more difficult than losing a child, which is why the scene that played out in an El Cajon courtroom earlier this month was particularly emotional. A mother who lost her only son had a chance to confront the 23-year-old woman who was responsible for killing her child in a drunk driving accident. She used her time to speak poignantly and heartbreakingly about the pain her family was going through. “I’m depleted, grieving. I miss my loving son with every fiber of my being,” she said.
The 23-year-old woman was driving her Chevy truck under the influence on Dec. 29 of last year, going the wrong way down State Road 52. At about 1 a.m., she collided with the victim, a 25-year-old man. The was killed instantly in the car accident.
The drunk driver had a blood-alcohol level of .24, about three times the legal limit. She apparently tried to back away from the collision, with the apparent attempt to continue her drive home. However, she was stopped by two men who witnessed the horrific accident.
Drunk driving accidents are a huge problem in San Diego, which is why many people feel that the 6-year prison sentence the driver will serve is very justified. Nonetheless, some people feel that this sentence is not harsh enough.
No matter how many years the drunk driver spends behind bars, it will do very little to help the family mourn or cope with their losses. Fortunately, the driver may also face civil liability, and may be required to compensate the family of the victim in damages for his wrongful death. The family of the victim should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about filing a wrongful death lawsuit against this drunk driving menace, and hold her accountable for her terrible actions.
Source: CBS 8, “Mother confronts drunk driver who killed her son,” Nov. 5, 2013
