SAN ANTONIO — The family of the mother and her 5-year-old child killed by a suspected drunk driver off Stone Oak Parkway is speaking out.
Vanesa Ramos and her son, Solumen Lopez, were taking their nightly walk near their home on the night of April 3 when police said 56-year-old Marlon Daniels lost control while speeding around a curve and struck them.
“You had two people that had a long life ahead and it was struck in an instance, literally just taken away,” Rick Barrera said.
Rick Barrera is Ramos’ brother-in-law. He said he has been in her life for 30 years.
“I remember her being a little girl and playing with caterpillars, bugs,” Barrera said.
He said he has seen her grow up to become a devoted mother to a 12-year-old girl and Solumen.
“She was really just committed to giving Solumen the best and helping him strive,” Barrera said.
Barrera said Solumen was autistic. For the last five years, Ramos became immersed in the autism community to advocate for her child.
“Solumen liked to play with rocks, he liked to be outside, he liked to run around,” Barrera said. “So, this was their nightly routine.”
The man accused of killing them is facing two counts of intoxication manslaughter. Barrera is confident they will get justice in the case.
“You know when you add up the age of Vanesa and you add up the age of Solumen, they’re still both younger than this man was,” Barrera said. “I’m sure that he has regrets but unfortunately, his reckless conduct and disregard for others has created a ripple effect.”
Barrera said the family has been visiting a makeshift memorial by the crash site. It has helped them get through two unimaginable losses.
“Jeffery the father is suffering with the fact that he usually would’ve been on these walks and just for whatever reason he was not this one time,” Barrera said. “Just living with the fact that he could’ve been there like, 'What if? What if?'”
Barrera said he is urging people to think twice before drinking and driving and to slow down. He said the road where the crash happened appears to be dangerous with fast drivers.