1 week ago
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FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Valley antheral learned his destiny Friday greeting astatine the Fresno County Courthouse aft fatally striking a young pistillate who was crossing the street.
"We're missing something, you know, thing is ever missing successful our family. Holidays, birthdays," said Beatriz Montell, the victim's older sister.
In October 2023, 19-year-old Corina Samuels was deed and killed portion crossing adjacent Ashlan and Valentine avenues successful Central Fresno.
According to the constabulary report, it was acheronian astatine the time, and Samuels was not successful a crosswalk.
Her household described the nighttime arsenic heartbreaking.
On Friday, they stood successful tribunal and shared affectional testimonies astir the interaction of her loss.
"We saw our sister connected the ground, and that nighttime changed everything," Montell said.
"When I archetypal heard the news, I could hardly function. It doesn't get better," added different household member.
The incidental besides changed the beingness of Joseph Valles, the operator involved.
He appeared successful tribunal with tears successful his eyes arsenic his lawyer spoke astir the affectional toll he's endured.
"He wanted to termination himself the nighttime it happened, helium freaked retired and ran, and the tribunal indispensable see his intelligence state," said lawyer Kathy Bird.
Valles was sentenced to 272 days successful jailhouse and 2 years of probation.
After the verdict was handed down, helium was handcuffed and led retired of the courtroom.
Bird said the result was expected. Although Valles near the scene, she emphasized that helium tried to crook himself successful the adjacent time and has cooperated since.
"None of america tin accidental however we'd respond successful that concern until we are successful it, and Valles was truthful distraught," Bird said. "He came to my bureau the adjacent time wanting to crook himself in. For 2 years, he's wanted to archer the victim's household however atrocious helium is."
Samuel's older sister, Beatriz, says her household is forgiving and understands that Valles is hurting. Still, she feels a consciousness of alleviation knowing helium volition service jailhouse time.
Her connection to drivers and pedestrians: ever beryllium mindful of your surroundings.
Montell has besides joined a enactment radical called Families for Safe Streets to assistance header with the grief.
"They get radical who person been successful deed and runs, and I americium truthful thankful to beryllium a portion of that due to the fact that they helped maine get done this."
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