Of the family of four hit by a suspected drunken driver Saturday afternoon on Research Boulevard, Austin, TX, it’s possible that only the 10-year-old girl who was in the backseat at the time will survive, her grandfather said Tuesday.
The Latulippe family is from California and had flown to Austin to visit friends, said Jim Enos, whose 38-year-old daughter and 14-year-old grandson were killed in the crash. When the crash happened, the family was on the way to the airport to return home.
|
Advertisement |
Guy Brasted, 41, is facing two counts of intoxication manslaughter in the crash. Brasted was driving a Jeep north on Research Boulevard when he lost control, crossed a highway-dividing cable into the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a Fiat carrying the Latulippe family, Austin police have said. The crash happened about 3:30 p.m., just west of MoPac Boulevard.
Nancy Latulippe, 38, and her son, 14-year-old Jackson Latulippe, died at the scene, police said. The father, 41-year-old Scott Latulippe, was rushed to Dell Seton Medical Center with traumatic brain damage and is not expected to survive, Enos said. The family is from Valley Center, Calif.
Brasted, whose blood alcohol content was 0.203, was also injured in the crash, his arrest affidavit says. He is currently being held in Travis County Jail with bail set at $200,000.
Records show Brasted had been a Marine assigned to Camp Pendleton in the late 1990s near Oceanside, Calif. — less than 20 miles from the Latulippes’ hometown of Valley Center in San Diego County. According to his LinkedIn profile, Brasted recently worked as a trucker in New Mexico and, until his crash in Austin, had no record of drunken driving or any other felony.
Kiera Latulippe, 10, is now out of the hospital, Enos said. Her grandmother is currently with her in Austin, and they plan to return home later this week.
“She had very little physical damage, but she did see everything that happened,” Enos said.
If Scott Latulippe dies from his injuries, Brasted will likely also be charged with a third count of intoxication manslaughter, Enos said. Brasted is currently facing an intoxication assault charge for Scott’s injuries, in addition to the two other manslaughter charges.
Friends and family took to social media to remember the fallen:
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.