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Widow recounts violent crash that claimed husband's life
| Wednesday, Jul 9 2008 5:21 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Jul 10 2008 6:14 AM
Jennifer Retes remembers waving at her husband to speed up, she said Wednesday. He was driving slowly behind her Saturday on Stockdale Highway, about two miles west of Highway 43.
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Jennifer Retes fights back tears as she talks about her husband, Timmy Retes, who was killed by an alleged drunk driver on Stockdale Highway.
Timmy Retes left behind a loving family — from left: stepdaughter Alexys Jones, stepdad Joseph Miller holding Harley, niece Misty Flynn, mother Joann Miller with Spike, Timmy's dog, and wife Jennifer Retes holding Hercules. Timmy Retes was killed by an alleged drunk driver on Stockdale Highway.
Jennifer Retes, center, remembers her husband Timmy Retes who was killed by an alleged drunk driver on Stockdale Highway. At left is the victim's mother Joann Miller, and at right is stepfather Joseph Miller.
Timothy Wayne Retes with Jennifer.
Seconds later she saw Glenn Wieland in her lane driving in the opposite direction, barreling toward her with headlights off, she said. His 1994 Ford pickup scraped her on the side of her Kia, forcing her into doughnuts and into a ditch.
“The next thing I remember is pulling my husband out of the car. I didn't hear or see anything,” Retes said. “He was dead at the scene.”
Wieland's truck slammed into Timothy “Timmers” Retes, 22, just after midnight, according to California Highway Patrol. The crash also killed Trisha Walton, 27, and injured several others, including two 2-year-olds in the car — one who suffered two broken legs.
The 52-year-old Lancaster man is being charged with eight felonies, including vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and three drug-related misdemeanors. He pleaded not guilty to all charges Tuesday.
Officers said they found about 22 grams of methamphetamine and some marijuana in Wieland's truck.
Jennifer Retes now wants to see justice, she said.
MURDER?
Jennifer Retes is researching ways to introduce legislation to have driving-under-the-influence deaths classified as murder instead of vehicular manslaughter, and therefore lead to stiffer penalties, she said. She is seeking support from politicians such as Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, who helped introduce Megan’s Law, and Sen. Dean Florez.
“This cannot keep on happening,” she said. “I won’t ever get to see my husband again.”
Wieland’s charges carry a 12-year prison sentence if convicted, according to the district attorney’s office, but that’s a preliminary estimate. A second-degree murder charge, however, carries 15 years to life in prison. A crash can be classified as murder if malice is proven, officials said.
As of this month, any person with a prior DUI charge renewing a license must sign a document that states driving under the influence is dangerous. If that person is involved in a DUI crash resulting in death, they will be charged with murder, said Matt Bunch, a legislative aide in Parra’s office.
“We can now prove intent and get a murder charge to stick,” he said.
Bunch said Jennifer Retes could try to introduce a bill, but one that would send more people to overcrowded prisons would probably not be successful. In about two years, however, the district attorney’s office will be able to file murder charges in DUI cases if certain circumstances apply, he said.
‘REMARKABLE’ MAN
“Timmers” Retes grew up in Lake Isabella. He started dating Jennifer in October and they married in November — a larger wedding in May. He took on the father-figure role for her two teenage daughters, and his niece and nephew.
“That tells you a lot about this 22-year-old man,” she said. “Remarkable.”
Timothy Retes’ mother, Joann Miller, said her son loved life and was always willing to help others.
“He was a mama’s boy,” she said.
Her husband, Joseph Miller, said he raised Timothy Retes, and it has been hard to go to work every day. They both worked for Gene Watson Construction.
“His mom wakes up every morning, and his wife wakes up every morning, and they cry every day because he’s not here,” Joseph Miller said.
Timothy and Jennifer Retes were with friends and family the day of the crash visiting another friend in Buttonwillow who was being deployed to Iraq, she said.
In the car with Jennifer were her daughters Alexys Jones, 15, and Ojenaya Bailey, 6; and Misty, her 14-year-old niece. Jennifer suffered cuts and bruises in the crash.
Behind her in the Oldsmobile was Timmers; Misty’s father Rick Flynn, 36; Flynn's girlfriend Walton, 27; Trisha Walton’s 2-year-old son Kenny Walton; and Rick's 2-year-old son Donavin Flynn.
Donavin suffered two broken thigh bones and is at a children’s hospital in Merced. Rick Flynn is at Kern Medical Center with brain damage, and is strapped in a straightjacket, his daughter Misty said.
“He thinks he's on a boat,” Misty said matter-of-factly.
“He doesn't know anything about the crash or the deaths,” Jennifer Retes said.
Jennifer Retes was subpoenaed Wednesday to testify in court. Wieland's next hearing is July 17. She hopes he is charged the maximum sentence — for her husband's sake, she said. His funeral will be held Friday.
“He was a wonderful man,” she said in tears.