Manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, driving without due care and attention…you probably know that string of charges so well because just about every single time there is a traffic fatality those are the charges slapped on the persons who was in the driver’s wheel – regardless of the circumstances of the accident. The practice has been to bring the charges up front, even though in the majority of the cases they are reduced or dropped altogether before it comes to trial. It’s not the best practice – because in very many cases it is not the driver’s negligence - but it is the standard practice. But that was waived last night when Orange Walk Mayor Ravel Gonzalez knocked down and killed two people. Here’s more.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This is the minivan that Orange Walk Mayor, Ravell Gonzalez was driving when he knocked down and killed two people at mile 35 on the Northern Highway at 6:30 last night. 4 persons, all residents of Rhaburn Ridge, were walking along the side of the road coming from a wake, and he hit the two of them, an adult and a child. They were on a bicycle being ridden by Manuel Coto who carried 2 year old Markita Lopez on his handlebar. The child’s father and mother Martha Lopez Garcia and Miguel Lopez Perrera were walking right behind when it happened.
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“A car was coming in our direction and the other car was coming from the other direction. That is the one that hit my daughter and my friend.”
Question,
Was the child on the edge of the road? In the middle of the road?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“Yes she was on the edge of the road with the young man.”
Question,
The vehicle was coming?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“The vehicle was coming at high speed since the car that was coming
in the opposite direction raised his lights and the man did not see.”
Question,
Did the man come off the road and hit the child?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“He passed and hit the bicycle.”
Jules Vasquez,
The man who was on the bike, was he drinking?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“No he is a Christian.”
Question,
What about the man driving the vehicle?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“I could not say because I was only taking care of my little girl.”
The two year old died on the way to the hospital. Now the question is whether police will charge or why haven’t they charged the mayor for manslaughter by negligence, driving without due care and attention or causing death by careless conduct. The police press officer gave the official answer.
Clemente Palacio, Police Press Officer
“When matters like these arise, what happens is that when we can’t presume what really happened, an investigation is conducted and a notice of intended prosecution is served which has been done in this case.”
Jules Vasquez,
Precedent mandates that when fatalities, particularly when fatalities are involved, standard operating procedure is that the person is charged immediately for manslaughter by negligence, driving without due care and attention, and the causing death by careless conduct. That is automatic, precedent suggests. Why was that not done in this case?
Clemente Palacio,
“Well the only thing I can tell you is what I have been told and of course they have told me that the notice of intended prosecution has been served, the Mayor was taken to Orange Walk and he voluntarily gave a sample for a urine test, we all know that this is standard procedure and that is as far as we go at this time.”
And while police seem to be handling it with political kid gloves, this family could care less, who is blamed – the just want their daughter back:
Question,
Do you still want the case to continue, to get justice?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“Yes, I want justice.”
Question,
Would you like this man jailed?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“No I don’t want him in jail. What I want is that he help me with my child because it was little girl that I had.”
Question,
Would you like that the law does something about this case or would you just want them to help you with the wake?
Miguel Lopez Perrera,
“I only want help with the wake. What I want to bury my child. They will give us back my daughter tomorrow and we don’t even have to buy a coffin. That’s all we want, we don’t need that the man goes to jail that nothing happen to him.”
Mayor Gonzalez was with his wife and two children at the time of the accident. He was reportedly heading home to Orange Walk after a family gathering. It’s of note that he announced some time ago that he is not seeking re-election. When we contacted him, he declined comment. A few notes, Mayor Gonzalez did provide a urine sample for testing – but this was reportedly not until some hours after the accident. He is helping the family with their costs, including $100 he gave them at the time of the accident to cover their travel expenses.
