DWI Kills Boy: NY’s Eve Tragedy

I just thought I was feeling depressed, call it the holiday blues, short on writing enough news stories this week, and then came word Saturday of the tragic DWI-related fatality in Palmview that included the death of a 5-year-old boy.

Can the new year start out any worse?

Unlikely. Related to the death — a drunk driver.

Female. Twenty-five. With her in the vehicle at the time of the accident was a minor under the age of 15 and an adult passenger, according to the Texas DPS.

During its initial investigation into the fatal crash, the DPS said that the woman behind the wheel, Lizbeth Samantha De La Cruz Gonzalez, was driving north on Abram Road, south of FM Loop 374 (Bus. 83) in Palmview, when her Buick subcompact SUV struck 5-year-old Antonio Ray Solis at approximately 8:49 p.m., last Tuesday, NY’s Eve, as he was crossing Abram.

His mother was apparently nearby. The “hows” and the “whys” are yet to be determined, made public, given the fact that the victim was only five, trying to cross a country road at night.

Cruz Gonzalez was arrested at the scene and later charged with driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 inside her vehicle. Plus, she was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

She was booked into the Hidalgo County jail early New Year’s and was released later the same day after posting a whopping bond of $25,000.

Three days later, according to DPS, Cruz Gonzalez’s alleged victim, the 5-year-old boy, Antonio Ray Solis, succumbed to his injuries.

In the meantime, some people have taken to social media, pointing out how dark Abram Road is in the vicinity of the crash, asking why haven’t streetlights been posted along the roadway.

The answer to that is, that’s why car manufacturers began making headlights standard on all vehicles in the early part of the 20th century. You know. So one can safely drive at night in the pitch black.

Then again, with enough alcohol circulating throughout the mind and body of the driver, who’s also carrying a controlled substance, according to DPS, would all the headlights in the world have made a difference?

Probably not, but who can say for sure.

What matters is, without trying to sound too preachy, a 5-year-old boy is dead, leaving behind devastated family members.

Poor boy. Poor parents, grandparents...

Poor first-responders who had to attend to the sad and tragic scene. Most would have had kids, so relating to the collision would have hit home.

Bravo, also, to the medical personnel, both enroute and at McAllen Medical, who tried to save the boy, who only a week prior had been happily celebrating Christmas.

Calling time of death Saturday must have been difficult even for the most well-seasoned physicians. My hat’s off to them for a most difficult job.

This is a story that The Advance has to follow as it winds its way through state District Court.

How long will the criminal case against 25-year-old Lizbeth Samantha De La Cruz Gonzalez last before she is adjudicated in some form or fashion?

In this case, probation and community service, only, shouldn’t be an option for any court or jury, or the DA’s office, should it?

DPS obviously drew Gonzalez’s blood to check her level of alcohol content because given the circumstances, they didn’t need her approval, so she can’t fall back on “no breathalyzer performed” defense, so who can prove she was drunk?

Meaning, reasonable doubt about her blood-alcohol level won’t be an issue at pre-trial, or trial, if it makes it that far. Thankfully, for the sake of the family.

Not guilty for her won’t be an option.

RIP, Antonio Ray Solis. You deserved better, kid.