So that's where it stands tonight - the situation in Succotz has been defused and the mob somewhat placated. Deputy Mike Segura has been criminally charged and remains on suspension.
But, of course, a mother's life was lost - and observers probably won't be satisfied until and unless there is a conviction - and, the matter is before the courts, so that is a wait and see matter.
But, public sentiment doesn't have to wait and see; their verdict is in: Deputy Segura was driving drunk and endangering drivers.
One eyewitness who Segura just barely missed, told 7News that seconds before the accident Segura was veering wildly across the highway:..
Eric Can - Eyewitness (translated)
"I was going about 75 yards ahead of the taxi when I saw the car snaking it's way, I moved to the bush, 75% of my car came off the road and I saw the car passed and only heard the roaring of the engine and I kept looking in the mirror and saw the vehicle crossing the road side to side. Well I went up the hill and when I did, my son told me "dad, dad ,dad the car already crashed" Then I said "left that car, that car is.. they are drunk and crazy and leave them let them kill themselves hope they don't crash and instantly I turned around and we reached at the accident and I saw that it was same car that passed me taking me. It could have been me, I would have been one of them but because God is Great, I was saved, it was not my time. Now the other poor lady, well we came and saw the taxi and shortly after we saw the lady who was sleeping in the taxi and that was when I went and I told the man who was driving "Look at what you did, this poor lady was struggling to survive, struggling to find her food and you took her life." Then he said "That is what you are saying."
Guadaloupe Valencia - Family Member of Deceased (translated)
"I feel very sad, it hurts me very much because it is not the first, they already killed my son and there was nothing done about it, they captured the man that killed my son and the police let him go, he escaped and it stayed that way. Now this commissioner of police killed my daughter and I don't want it to stay that way, I want justice because she is a human being, she is not a dog that he killed. He killed her, came out of his vehicle still with his pants down, zipped up his pants and took out his cigarette and started to smoke. He did not go near to see what he did that he killed my daughter. Another police from Benque came who is his brother and he took him about 3 yards ahead and who knows what he told him and after a little while they started to wash the car and they moved it from the scene and put it in its place to say that nothing happened and to show that the taxi in which my daughter was in had the fault. That man, all of Succotz know that he does not drink."
"I believe it is not right that he goes free because I, as a mother if it was someone else, the police would have already beat him, handcuffed him and taken him to Hattieville but because he is Commissioner of Police so he can kill everybody who stands on the road. It is injustice, it is the law, I want justice because this has my soul devastated because it is not right."
The funeral for Yolanda Valencia was held this afternoon at 4:00 in Succotz.
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