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Quadriplegic gets day in jail for killing woman in wreck
| Thursday, Jul 17 2008 5:42 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Jul 18 2008 12:32 PM
With his wheelchair turned toward the family he devastated, Danny Espinoza desperately sought to apologize for the 2006 car wreck that killed 69-year-old Dorothy Anne Walter.
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Danny Espinoza's mother, Laurie Kolkman, right, hugs her son before his sentencing Thursday. His father Dennis is pushing his wheelchair and his attorney Bruce Blythe, left, walks in with them.
Family members of Dorothy Anne Walter, who was killed by Danny Espinoza, listen to their attorney talk to the media after Espinoza's sentencing Thursday.
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“If there’s anything I could do, I would,” the 25-year-old said over and over to her family in court Thursday.
Espinoza, who was paralyzed by the injuries he sustained in the crash, was sentenced to a single day in jail and five years’ probation for his role in the fatal crash.
“There is no ability in this court to undo the suffering Espinoza has accomplished,” Judge Michael Lewis said Thursday.
Lewis acknowledged that neither side would be pleased with Espinoza’s punishment — a three-year suspended sentence, which means he could go to prison for a probation violation.
“Mrs. Walter would not want you to put your lives on hold,” Lewis told her family. “Healing for both families will commence today.”
During the hearing Thursday, Nancy Walter-Frazier, Walter’s daughter, looked at Espinoza and told him, “I want you to look at your mother.”
“You took that away from me,” she said.
Espinoza pleaded no contest to felony vehicular manslaughter in Walter’s death.
“I’m not sure I agree with the judge’s decision,” said prosecutor Michael Yraceburn, who wanted Espinoza to spend four years in prison.
“The family is very disappointed with what the judge did today,” he said. “The family feels Mr. Espinoza got away with it.”
Bill Kolkman, Espinoza’s stepfather, said the sentencing was a no-win situation for both sides. Family members said a prison sentence would be a death sentence for Espinoza, who is now a quadriplegic.
“My son is paying for what he did every day of his life,” said Espinoza’s father, Dennis.
Before he was sentenced, Espinoza’s wheelchair was turned toward the Walter family so he could talk to them.
“I have no idea why I was driving so fast,” Espinoza said. “I haven’t gone a day without thinking about (the accident). I truly am very sorry.”
Espinoza was booked on Thursday and released later that day because he already spent his day in jail.
“We’re all so happy,” said his mother, Laurie Kolkman. “We can get on with our lives.”
Espinoza was also ordered to pay $21,428.10 to Walter’s family to cover funeral expenses, Lewis said.
Walter’s family declined to comment after the hearing.
On March 5, 2006, Espinoza was driving west on Stockdale Highway when his car went into the eastbound lane near Buena Vista Road and slammed into Walter’s vehicle. Walter later died at Kern Medical Center.