SAN ANTONIO – A new nonprofit is hoping a gift to a single father Saturday will help him and his family get their lives back on track.
John Cano's life changed forever when a drunken driver slammed into his car two years ago on the city's South Side. His wife and mother to a young girl also in the vehicle at the time of the crash, Elizabeth, died.
Cano is the first person to be given a car by new local nonprofit Driving Single Parents Inc. The founder of the organization, Cindy Witteman, purchased the vehicle with money out of her own pocket.
"He's been relying on everybody else for two years, and he needs transportation to get his family around," Witteman said.
"It's been a long journey for me. The past two years since, like, the accident. (I was) not able to drive or not able to have my independence because (of) going through a lot of surgeries," Cano said.
In March 2015, then 24-year-old Miguel Cortes had a blood-alcohol content of 0.17, over twice the legal limit, when he slammed head on with Cano's car.
"The day of the accident is the last time I got behind the wheel," Cano said. "Nothing's going to hold me back now. I'm going be free again, and I'm going to enjoy this very much with my kids."
Cano believes his wife is watching over their family and vows to never take life for granted. He spoke some strong words to Cortes following his sentencing in February 2016 about never being able to forgive him. Now, he said, little by little he's starting to find peace to move on.