Unlicensed And Drunk Driver Allegedly Crosses Into Opposing Traffic, Kills Teen, and Refuses To Call For An Ambulance . . . Then Blames Other Car For Accident
jonathanturley
When Jessilyn Eisman, 16, crawled out of her friend’s wrecked car in Iowa, one friend (Chrishaun Moten, 17, right) was dead and two others seriously wounded. She called for the other driver to call for an ambulance but she says that Hilberto Velasquez-Ramirez, 31, refused. She says that he looked like he was going to drive away so she grabbed his keys and ran for help. Now Velasquez-Ramirez, who was drunk and driving without either insurance or a driver’s license, says it was the fault of the teenagers.
The van had crossed into opposing traffic when it hit the car and killed Chrishaun Moten. Brenden Kniesly, 18, the driver of the car, and Philip Moffatt, 17, were seriously injured. Eisman was the least injured (right) and acted quickly to guarantee that the suspect did not flee and that medical attention was coming for her friends.
Velasquez-Ramirez was arrested on suspicion of homicide by vehicle, two counts of serious injury by vehicle, operating while intoxicated and having no driver’s license or proof of insurance. While blaming the teens, Velasquez-Ramirez admits that he consumed six beers before the crash. Additional beers were found in his van. He is being held due to uncertain immigration status.
Even without the illegal immigration status, this is not what one would call an easy defense case. He was reportedly twice the legal limit for intoxication and found with additional beers in his van. The van reportedly hit the car in opposing traffic and the driver was found both drunk and driving without a license or insurance. That would just about cover the criminal code from such accidents to guarantee a hefty sentence if convicted.
