Justice is coming down hard on the side of victims hit by drunk drivers in North Carolina. Recent legislation, like Laura’s Law, demonstrates the severity of the price drivers pay when they’re caught or create tragic collisions because they chose to drink and drive.
Initially, police charged Ryan Boyd with DWI—driving while intoxicated—and reckless driving. Now, media outlets across the Piedmont Triad report that Boyd faces three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
Boyd faces the additional, felony charges following an investigation into a wreck he allegedly caused while driving drunk in High Point, NC.
Maria Velasquez, her five children and a family friend were making their way to an Easter resurrection service on April 23, 2011 when Boyd slammed into Velasquez’s minivan without even hitting the breaks. He ran through a red light at a high rate of speed, according to the official accident report.
The fact that the victims lived can be considered an Easter miracle. The kids—ranging in ages from 10 to 16—suffered injuries including broken bones, cuts and scrapes. Some injuries required stitches to heal. Even though none of the injuries were life threatening, such a traumatic collision is a lot for anyone—especially young people—to go through.
Velasquez was also seriously injured and remained in the hospital for days after the other victims, but has since returned home. In all, 6 passengers were in the car with Velasquez during the accident; five were her children and one was a family friend.
Fortunately, no passengers were in Boyd’s car. He was injured in the crash and stayed in the hospital several days. The additional aggravated charges he’s facing—felony charges—came following his release from hospital treatment. He was in Guilford County Jail in Greensboro, but has since been released after posting a bond of $7,500.
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