After Drunk Driver Kills Child, Mother Faces Three Years in Prison
A grieving African-American mother in Georgia is facing the potential of more time in prison than the drunk driver who struck and killed her child and then fled the scene.
Raquel Nelson lost her four-year-old son while trying to shuttle him across a five-lane highway, along with two of her other children. Jerry Guy — a partially-blind man who has admitted to having consumed alcohol and painkillers beforehand — hit the young boy with his vehicle. The child later died of his injuries. Nelson and her daughter were also struck and suffered injuries.
An all-white jury has convicted Nelson of homicide by vehicle in the second degree, jaywalking and reckless conduct. She could serve up to three years in prison.
David Goldberg of Transportation for America expressed his outrage that the all-white jurors couldn’t seem to place themselves in the shoes of a mother trying to provide essentials for her children while crossing a five-lane highway–which encourages speeding in a mixed-zoned community:
That’s right: Because Nelson did not lug her exhausted little ones three-tenths of a mile from the bus stop to a traffic signal in order to cross five lanes of traffic, she is guilty of vehicular homicide. Because she did as her fellow bus riders, who crossed at the same time and place, and because she did what pedestrians will do every time – take the shortest reasonable path – she is guilty of vehicular homicide.
Meanwhile, the drunk driver, Guy — who was previously convicted of two-hit-and-runs in one day in 1997 — was initially charged with hit and run, first degree homicide by a vehicle and cruelty to children. But the charges were later dropped to simply hit and run. Guy served a six-month jail term and will spend the remainder of his five-year sentence on probation.
what the H.. i do believe she is at fault a little because how do you cross a 5 lane highway w/no lights or traffic signs, or traffic cop?! that’s dangerous in itself.. i know she didn’t want to walk but damn.. i’m a driver.. i know how hard it is to stop on a highway doing the speed limit.. should she be charged, NO! She has enough guilt to deal with.. but why were the charges dropped down to a hit and run when a child died, when this man was half-blind (he shouldn’t be driving), and while he was intoxicated?! this is crazy…. the white folks on the jury are crazy.. they need to pray nothing like this ever happens to their child..
Not only was this dude drinking, but he admitted to taking painkillers too???? DAMN!! Can somebody tell me how a partially blind person is able to have a drivers license in the first place? Blind, drunk and high???? There is no way this guy should have been behind the wheel.
I hope the people in Georgia rally around this mother and do whatever they have to to get the judge in this case off the bench.
How did her lawyer let the jury be all white? Couldn’t he reject some jurors? Couldn’t he complain that the jury was all white and thus not a jury of her peers? Don’t black people vote in Georgia? Of course they do! The whole thing is a tragedy and travesty.
WOW! Vehicular Homicide? Really? I can see jay walking and reckless endangerment, but homicide?
I’m speechless.
I thought you had to be in control of the vehicle in order to be convicted of vehicular homicide….did they make a mistake an pin the correct charge onto the wrong person? Guy should have CERTAINLY been convicted of that. Though drunk, blind, and heavily medicated, I sincerely doubt he intended to mow down the family, but then again….it is Georgia. She needs a new legal team if they’re going to let that charge stick. Sad situation all around.
Welcome back, Jim Crow.
You are sooo right. They are gunning for us hard!!