Family fears no justice in grandmother’s death

A family is demanding justice over a loved one killed in a car collision.

The Garcia family fears not having justice served for their loving grandmother Mary who was struck and killed by a car right after Christmas last year.

Margaret, Mary’s daughter, said she’s tried unsuccessfully several times to get answers from the District Attorney’s Office and now she’s afraid the case is not being given the proper attention.

“I fear it and I feel it in my heart. Because, every time I call the D.A. they have something to report, it got sent back to the P.D. [Police Department] and they have to overlook it again. And then go back to the lawyers. And this is back and forth. Nothing is being done,” Garcia said.

68-year-old Mary Garcia suffered severe injuries on Fourth Avenue in El Centro nearly nine months ago.

“The driver shattered her face. That’s why we had a closed casket. Couldn’t see her. The last words that I had from my mom when I talked to her were, I’ll be back, mica. I’ll be back. I’m going to go get some donuts. That was the last time I saw my mom,” Garcia said.

8-year-old Evelyn misses talking to her grandma. She tenderly touched the casket with her grandmother inside and spoke to it.

“Grandma, I just love the way you were. Your family is going to love you no matter what,” Evelyn said.

Garcia watched her little girl talking to the casket and held back the tears.

“That’s unbearable to see your little girl do that. She was close to her nana, real close to her nana,” Garcia said.

We called the District Attorney’s office to find out the status on the case. They said no charges have yet been filed against the 20-year-old woman driving the car. They said the case is still under review.

“I want justice. I want justice. I want this girl to pay for what she did to my family. I want the D.A. to really get on this case and put this girl where she belongs. She doesn’t belong in the streets. She shouldn’t be working. She shouldn’t be free. She took a life,” Garcia said through tears finally breaking out.

She plans to continue pressing the D.A. to give justice to her mother. She demands to know why justice is taking so long.

“Call over there at the D.A., make an appointment, so I can go in and talk to them face to face and see what’s going on; why justice hasn’t been done. So, now who’s paying the consequences? We are. Why? Because justice is not being done. It’s not being served like it should be,” Garcia said.

The Victim-Witness Protection Program paid for Mary’s burial. The family had no money to pay for it themselves.