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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject: 16-Year-Old Girl Killed by Illegal Alien on Way to Parade
Gilbert band member killed in crash on way to parade
by Lindsey Collom and Beth Duckett - Nov. 15, 2008 10:58 PM
The Arizona Republic
Mesa police say an impaired driver triggered a crash early Saturday that killed a 16-year-old girl and injured her 17-year-old brother as they drove to a school band event.
Manuel Contreras-Galdean, 32, was arrested and booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of manslaughter and aggravated assault.
Authorities also placed an immigration hold on him after it was determined that he is in the country illegally.
Police said Contreras-Galdean was at the wheel of a red Dodge Ram about 6:30 a.m. when he turned left in front of a Nissan Sentra carrying the teens.
Their collision at Guadalupe and Sossaman roads was nearly head-on, according to Sgt. Ed Wessing, a Mesa police spokesman.
Kelly Tracy suffered massive head trauma and injuries to both legs in the crash. Her brother Matthew, the driver, had non-life-threatening injuries.
The siblings were on their way to perform in the Gilbert Days Parade. Band members and parents confirmed they were students at Highland High School.
Jay Thompson, whose daughter Lauren is a freshman in the band, said he and his wife, Francy, arrived at the school Saturday morning to volunteer.
Upon hearing the news, band officials opted to pull out of the parade in downtown Gilbert.
"There was just shock and grief and sadness . . . it was just horrible," Thompson said. "We just all cried and hugged."
Thompson, who wrote about the incident on a blog, said they were initially told Tracy was in critical condition. The school's principal later informed them of her death.
Mesa police said she died in the operating room.
Hayden Horsman, a freshman band member at the high school, said students were devastated.
"They were amazed that something could happen to somebody our age," said Hayden, 14. "So many people were crying. It was hard to comfort and help all those people."
Joined: Aug 18, 2008 Posts: 1208 Location: NC and Canada. Got a foot in both worlds
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject:
Police said Contreras-Galdean was at the wheel of a red Dodge Ram about 6:30 a.m.
They gotta have the biggest baddest vehicle they can afford... GREED
Drunk at 6:30 AM? In the end they will probably find out the guy had no license, no insurance etc.
My heart goes out to this family! But at least we know Sheriff Joe knows how to treat scum like this. TOO bad the State won't follow in Joe's footsteps
I just sent it to every MSM station and about 15 Senators and told them .....
Again another child killed by an illegal alien drunk driver...when you go to sleep tonight remember to thank the Lord this was not your child or grand child...if you can sleep.
My prayers to the family! _________________ AUT*AGERE*AUT*MORI (EITHER ACTION OR DEATH)
Joined: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 9823 Location: Santa Clarita Ca
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:
November 19, 2008 |
Valley & StateType Size: A A A Print Email Most Popular Buzz up!
No excuse for DUI
Mesa teenager is the latest in a long line of people killed by suspected drunken drivers
by Laurie Roberts - Nov. 19, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Another weekend, another dead innocent. This time, a 16-year-old girl on her way to march in a parade.
Killed, police say, by a drunk.
That is, a drunk who was here illegally.
That is, a drunk who was here illegally and had been arrested four times, including twice for DUI.
And still he was on Guadalupe Road on Saturday morning. Drunk, police say, at a time when many were probably headed out for breakfast.
Kelly Tracy is the latest in a long line of people gone now because some selfish idiot - legal and illegal alike - decided to get drunk, then get behind the wheel.
If I sound mad, it's because I am. If I sound fed up, it's because I am.
I know that we will never stop drunks from driving. Too many people just don't see it as a big deal.
I know that it's not only those who are here illegally who reach (and reach) for the booze, then reach for their car keys. It's lawyers. It's plumbers. It's journalists. People of all colors do it. People of all income levels.
But really, is it asking too much to at least get the drunks off the road who don't even belong here?
Apparently so, because there on Saturday morning was Manuel Contreras-Galdean. The 32-year-old concrete worker told Mesa police that he's been in the U.S. illegally for 14 years, though he's hardly lived in the shadows.
According to police records, Contreras-Galdean was arrested in July 2000 in Salt Lake City on suspicion of interfering with a police officer. He served 10 days in jail. And was set free.
In April 2001, he was arrested in West Jordan, Utah, on suspicion of giving false information to police. He served 10 days in jail. And was set free.
In May 2001, the Utah Highway Patrol arrested him on suspicion of DUI. And set him free.
In 2003, he was stopped by a New Mexico cop who called the Border Patrol. Contreras-Galdean accepted a voluntary return to Mexico.
In January 2007, he was arrested in Tempe on suspicion of extreme DUI. He pleaded guilty to DUI and served 24 hours in April 2007. And was set free.
Tempe Sgt. Steve Carbajal told me they didn't contact ICE because they had no reasonable suspicion that he was here illegally. He had what appeared to be a valid Mexican driver's license and his car was registered to an Arizona address.
Fast forward to Saturday. Mesa Sgt. Ed Wessing said Contreras-Galdean told police that he and a friend started drinking around 2 a.m. A few hours later, Wessing said, he hit a car nearly head-on.
Matt and Kelly Tracy of Mesa were planning to march that morning in the Gilbert Days Parade. Doctors tried their damnest but Kelly couldn't be saved. Matt wasn't seriously injured, not in any flesh-and-bone way. But the 17-year-old will carry the scars of Saturday for the rest of his life.
Tell me again why DUI isn't that big of a deal?
Someone is killed in this state nearly every day by a drunken driver. We've raised penalties to the point that we have some of the toughest laws in the nation. And still it happens.
To Contreras-Galdean, here illegally, perhaps none of those laws matter. But what's everyone else's excuse?
Kelly joins an unpardonably long line of people, killed by drunks. People like Chris and Nanuma and Rob and Sean, who was 17 and headed to a band concert when a drunk hit him. Wendy and her 10-year-old daughter Haley, who died on their way home from a birthday party. Laurie and Pat and Phyllis, a grandmother killed after picking her grandson up from preschool. Nora, an ASU freshman killed last month after having pizza with family and friends. Shane, a Phoenix cop.
And now, Kelly Tracy. Age 16. Hit by a drunk, police say, at 6:30 in the morning.
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