Teenaged Drunk Driver Agrees To Plea Deal in Deadly Crash
By: Victor Sotelo
Updated: January 16, 2013
The teenager who was driving the car in which 2 teenaged girls died in a crash on FM 600 last April, pleaded guilty and received a 20 year prison sentence. The family members of the two girls who died and the other teens injured in the crash, were in the Jones County courtroom and said they were not happy with the plea deal and say justice was not served.
Brianna Camacho's father, Rocky Flores, told Elisio Garza, in court, after Garza received his 20 year prison sentence, that he would never forgive him for what he had done to his daughter and her cousin
Flores said after the proceeding, "I would never forgive somebody who took my child, or anybody who takes anybody's child, that is just something you don't do."
Brianna Camacho and Elexus Flores were killed last April when the car Garza was driving lost control on FM 600, Garza had been drinking.
Elexus Flores mother was not happy either. After she walked out of the Jones County Court House she said,
"It's never going to go away, there is no closure here, there is never going to be any closure, its on our mind everyday, constantly."
The families of two other teens hurt in the crash Gabriel Mendoza, who later died in a shooting accident, and Nick Lopez, were also in the court, they were also not happy. As part of the plea deal three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon were dropped.
"He hurt my brother as well," Gabriel Mendoza's sister said in an interview back here in Abilene. "He hurt him tremendously. The months he had here were horrible, he was depressed, you know, it affected my brother too, so how come his charge is dismissed?"
Garza who could not talk during the hearing took the opportunity to apologize to the families when he interviewed him in jail.
"I just want to let you know that I am sorry. I'm hurting too, they are not the only ones, know body planned for this to happen, it just happened, I'm very deeply sorry, out of my hart, if I could do anything to change it I would."
He also said he has learned a lesson.
"Think twice before you do it, because things like this can happen in the blink of an eye, real quick, and you could loose the ones that you love, the ones that were close to you, and you could find yourself in a situation like I am, as hurt as they are, and I advise, think before you drive, and if you do, make sure you have a designated driver
A lesson that came too late for two young Abilene girls.
Garza was sentenced to 20 years on each of two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a deadly weapon, the weapon being the car. The two 20 year sentences will run concurrently, that means he will be in prison for 20 years and be eligible for parole when he serves at least half of his sentence.
Brianna Camacho's father, Rocky Flores, told Elisio Garza, in court, after Garza received his 20 year prison sentence, that he would never forgive him for what he had done to his daughter and her cousin
Flores said after the proceeding, "I would never forgive somebody who took my child, or anybody who takes anybody's child, that is just something you don't do."
Brianna Camacho and Elexus Flores were killed last April when the car Garza was driving lost control on FM 600, Garza had been drinking.
Elexus Flores mother was not happy either. After she walked out of the Jones County Court House she said,
"It's never going to go away, there is no closure here, there is never going to be any closure, its on our mind everyday, constantly."
The families of two other teens hurt in the crash Gabriel Mendoza, who later died in a shooting accident, and Nick Lopez, were also in the court, they were also not happy. As part of the plea deal three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon were dropped.
"He hurt my brother as well," Gabriel Mendoza's sister said in an interview back here in Abilene. "He hurt him tremendously. The months he had here were horrible, he was depressed, you know, it affected my brother too, so how come his charge is dismissed?"
Garza who could not talk during the hearing took the opportunity to apologize to the families when he interviewed him in jail.
"I just want to let you know that I am sorry. I'm hurting too, they are not the only ones, know body planned for this to happen, it just happened, I'm very deeply sorry, out of my hart, if I could do anything to change it I would."
He also said he has learned a lesson.
"Think twice before you do it, because things like this can happen in the blink of an eye, real quick, and you could loose the ones that you love, the ones that were close to you, and you could find yourself in a situation like I am, as hurt as they are, and I advise, think before you drive, and if you do, make sure you have a designated driver
A lesson that came too late for two young Abilene girls.
Garza was sentenced to 20 years on each of two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a deadly weapon, the weapon being the car. The two 20 year sentences will run concurrently, that means he will be in prison for 20 years and be eligible for parole when he serves at least half of his sentence.
