Arlington Muslim Family Struggles With Life, Faith
Related Stories
- Suspect In DWI Case Has Prior Convictions (2/22/2009)
- Suspect In DWI Case Has Prior Convictions (2/22/2009)
An Arlington couple sits at a North Texas hospital, hoping for a miracle. Doctors say their two-year-old son has severe brain damage after a crash with an accused drunk driver. The family held a news conference Tuesday from Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth.
Family members said they held the press conference for two reasons. One – to show people how drunk drivers destroy families and secondly, to announce that they have filed a civil action lawsuit.
Two-year-old Abdallah Khader is on life support. Stewart Lee Richardson, 44, faces Intoxication Assault charges for the crash that has the little boy clinging to life. If Abdallah dies, the charges against Richardson will likely be upgrade to Intoxication Manslaughter.
The Khader family had just left a family gathering Friday night when their car was hit near the intersection of South Cooper and Oak Village, in Arlington. According to police, the Khader family car was stopped at a red light when Richardson rear-ended them.
The Khader's are Muslim and say they cannot take the child off of life support, because of their religious beliefs. Doctors say little Abdallah will either die unassisted, or survive with severe brain injuries.
"I would estimate that about 80-percent of his brain has been destroyed," said neurosurgeon
. Doctors say if Abdallah survives he will never be able to stand, sit, walk, or speak.
"The family is in the position of either having to make the choice of taking him off life support or leaving him on life support and having this guy get off with less of a penalty," said Majed Nachawati, the family's attorney.
Local Islamic leader Imam Moujahed Bakhach said there is an exception to the rule. He said if three doctors agree that a patient could not survive and live a normal life, they would allow the patient to be taken off life support.
Right now that's not a call the Khaders are ready to make. "What's keeping me alive right now is that he's breathing upstairs," said Loubna Khader.
Richardson was originally jailed in Arlington on an $8,000 bond. "This man, right now, has a bond of $8,000. Is this how much my son's life is worth? My son was gonna be three-years-old in a month and a half. He's my only son. I breathe while he breathes. He's my only son and I want my son back," said Loubna.
After being transferred to the Tarrant County Jail, bond for Richardson was increased to $75,000.
However, the two-year-old's parents are outraged that Richardson was able to get out of jail after posting just ten percent of his $75,000 bond.
At the press conference, Abdallah's parents said they want Richardson charged with Intoxication Manslaughter, compensation for the crash and potentially deadly results, and information as to why Richardson was still driving after having faced multiple DUI charges in Ohio and Iowa.
"How many times does someone have to be… to be caught driving under the influence of alcohol, until he's not allowed to drive in this country?" mother Loubna Khader asked.
In Iowa, Richardson had three separate Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charges, in 1988, 1994, and 1998 respectively. Officials there considered the 1998 charge his second offense, for that he spent seven days in jail, paid a $1,500 fine, and had his driver's license suspended for six years.
Richardson's former fiancé said he has a good heart, but has been battling alcohol problems for years. She said he came to North Texas to work as a heavy equipment operator.
The loss of a family member is devastating and you need an experienced Wrongful Death and Auto Accident attorney at your side. The Wrongful Death Law Firm of Fears & Nachawati will use a team of experienced Auto Accident Attorneys and the resources of our firm to get your family what it deserves. Contact us immediately at 214-890-0711.
