ADDING INSULT TO INJURY: OLIVEIRA'S VICTIM NOW DISABLED

By Juan Montoya
Ofelia Garcia's life changed dramatically for the worse November 9, 2011, just a little under seven years ago.

That's when the 53-year-old Brownsville woman and her mate were traveling on the frontage road in front of Charlie Clark Motors when their 1999 Ford Windstar van was struck from behind by a red Chrysler PT Cruiser and they were sent spinning onto the grassy area alongside US 77.

The 2004 Chrysler crashed into the fence around the car dealership and came to rest inside the lot, barely missing striking a car that was parked on a ramp in the dealership.

Although Garcia complained to the officer of great back pain, general body weakness and shock following the impact, she declined to be transported to the hospital. But if she thought that the body pain was all that would result from the crash she was badly mistaken.

It was until later that the couple found out that their van would never be fixed for heavy back-end damage that resulted from the impact of the Chrysler that police reported was traveling at a great rate of speed when it struck the victims.

In fact, the damages to their vehicle, including the towing and storage fee to Tejano Towing, were borne by the victims. Their badly-damaged vehicle and her injuries would not be paid for by the owner of the other car because the car was registered to District 37 Representative Rene Oliveira.

The police report also stated that the driver – allegedly his girlfriend Guadalupe Molina – could not produce proof of insurance. In fact, Oliveira did not have insurance on the car. (See graphic, on second line Proof of Financial Responsibility.)

Eyewitnesses at the time have commented that it might have been Oliveira behind the wheel because of a number of indications. Some say they saw a disheveled Oliveira using his cell phone in the bathroom of the Cheddar's Restaurant next to Charlie Clark Nissan.

Police report that Molina was so intoxicated that she swayed and could not stand upright on her own. And police said she had a scrape or friction burn on the inside of her left wrist and her stocking was torn as if it had been grabbed or pulled around her left knee. In short, it seemed as if someone had grabbed her by her writs and knee and pulled her into the driver's seat.

Shortly thereafter, then-city commissioner Melissa Zamora (now Landin) appeared on the scene identifying herself as an elected official to police and demanding to speak with Molina who was inside a police unit. It wasn't until the officers at the scene warned Zamora that she was in danger of getting arrested for interfering with an arrest that she stayed at a distance from the car, but not before she counseled Molina to make no statements to police.

Relatives of the victims said that the family tried to seek legal help from local attorneys, but when they heard that Oliveira was involved, none would take their case. And do, after trying without avail to get Oliveira to own up to his obligations to repair the damage Molina (or him, perhaps) had inflicted upon them, they gave up.

Sad as this is, the story is not over. One of Garcia's brothers says that the woman recently suffered an aneurysm which has resulted in a loss of memory. She cannot recall many things, including details of the accident. And he says that his family will never forget that his sister's car and health were damaged as a result of Oliveira's failure to own up to the damages incurred by his uninsured car.

"Its time to get rid of him," he said with some bitterness. "He never assumed responsibility for what happened to my sister. He thinks he is untouchable. She might not remmeber, but we will."

To read entire police report, click on link:   https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=643034ff4a&view=att&th=162d99d74c17bf95&attid=0.0&disp=inline&safe=1&zw