SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio crash survivor and the father of 7-year-old who was killed by a drunk driver hopes drivers and families will hear his story and make the decision not to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks.
Edward Jimenez lost his son, Matthew, and their neighbor, Ricky Zamarripa, in a crash in 2006 near Palo Alto College.
“What happened to us is devastating. Part of our future is gone when you lose a child,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez has become an advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He said the pain of losing his son doesn’t ever go away, but he’s hoping to be a voice for change.
“The hard stuff comes when you hurt somebody,” Jimenez said, addressing the people who get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
On Sunday, San Antonio police said Lizette Flores Corona was killed in a crash on Culebra Road by a suspected drunken driver. Alejandro Almazan was charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.
Jimenez said it never gets easy to hear of those hurt by drunken drivers.
“I am so sorry that this happened to you. It breaks my heart to hear that,” he said. “I wish things were different for them. I wish people would actually be responsible and consider what they’re doing because what they're doing affects those around them.”
The Texas Department of Transportation said that in December 2016, there were 246 alcohol-related crashes in Bexar County and the 24 surrounding counties combined. Five of those turned out to be fatal crashes.
“We hear the numbers, like, five people died, but it’s more than that,” Jimenez said. “It affects hundreds of people, thousands of people, their loved ones, friends, (and) family that are going to be missing their loved one.”
Jimenez wants drivers and the families of people who get behind the wheel to make the right decision and possibly save someone’s life.