On the night of January18, approximately at 8:27 pm, a Ford
Escort, driven by Jerry Moya , 46 years old, crossed 5 lanes
of traffic into the southbound lane and struck
our car head on. Police received a cellular phone call
approximately 40 minutes before the crash
stating that Moya's car was seen driving erratically
in Rio Rancho, trying to make turns where
no turning lanes existed, almost causing other
wrecks along the way. Unfortunately Moya's car disappeared for
40 minutes after the phone call, while police frantically searched
for the vehicle. Moya's blood results
showed, Cocaine, Methadone and Xanax.
Marijuana was also found in the Vehicle.
It is a Miracle Doug survived, the steering column is what saved his life.
Karen was under the dashboard and both kids had to be extracted from the car.
Karen suffered multiple blunt force
injuries and died on her way to the Hospital.
I pray she did not feel pain.
My name is Douglas Ferreira, and I am Karen's brother.
I am 17 years old and have been driving for more than a year now. My parents were real
strict with me when it came to driving responsibilities and made sure I was a good driver
before I ever took the car to drive on my own. I hated driving because of all the
people that drives like morons, little did I know that my sister and I were to be a victim of
an irresponsible, drug addict moron. As always, I went to pick my sister up at her part time job
as a hostess and cashier at our local family restaurant, Seferino's. All I remember is that
I never had a chance to react, I must have been at 35 mph since I just turned into highway 528
and all of the sudden lights were on top of me and I didn't even have time to press the brakes,
All I heard is a crash, and I blacked out. My concern for my sister was greater than the pain
I felt and as I came to I touched her, and called out her name, I never heard her answer, as
I blacked out again. I vaguely remember the DPS saying she had a slight pulse, as we were being air lifted
to University Hospital. I did not know she died as I drifted in and out of consciousness.
I suffered serious injuries to my right leg, and was wheeled into surgery
that same night to insert a rod into my right femur,and to patch my pelvis.
My knee was shattered and my heel caved into my ankle,
my left leg had lacerations which there was no skin left to stitch and had to heal naturally with new skin growth.
My torso and neck were cut deeply by the seat belt, my heart was bruised and bleeding.
For awhile, doctors thought I might
need heart surgery if the bleeding didn't stop, but I think all the prayers saved me from this ordeal and the bruising in my heart
stopped bleeding.
Later on I received three more surgeries to reconstruct my leg and had intense physical therapy.
I am a survivor, and I am devastated about my
sister's death, I will forever ask God, WHY? Why were we selected to be a drugged driver's random Victim?
COMMENTS FROM STEP DAD - WES OSTER
People ask me how I feel about Drunk
and Drugged Drivers, all I can say is that
it is inexcusable. I am a Vietnam Veteran and
served in the Coast Guard for nine years,
as a drug enforcement agent, risking my
life, in every bust, and now I lose my
daughter to the same people I tried to keep off
the streets.
It is ironic that my
serving this Country and fighting for its safety,
would end up in fruitless efforts.
This Country and especially this State,
does not enforce law and adequate
punishment to those who pollutes our society.
I moved to this State because I am a
Senior Technician at Intel, I never thought
I would be living in a State, that your,
life is in danger, every time you step out your
door. My wife and I are educated
people, and know that war and crime is a
revenue for this country's economy,
yet there must be an adequate balance to keep
us satisfied as well.
A LETTER FROM THE WITNESS WHO LAST HELD MY DAUGHTER.
Almost 4 years has gone by and by pure accident I met the young man who last
held my daughter. Neither of us knew who we were until I mentioned that
I was A DWI Activist and he mentioned the crash that deeply impacted him.
When he finished his story I said: "That was my Daughter you Held."
THANK YOU JOHN for answering my deepest prayer which was
a confirmation that she felt no pain.
I wish I was the one who last held her but I honor you for doing that for me. You will always be in my heart
as part of Karen.
John's Letter after our shock of accidentally meeting each other.
I will always treasure it and thank you for it.
"Your daughter has remained in my heart and soul since that evening
and deep down I wished I could have done more. I still remember her
face as my heart poured over her, just thinking why somebody so precious
could be hurt. I still think about her and in some instances I still
have dreams about her. In my life she has never left.
Two strangers, but somehow feeling that something more was meant to be.
I wasn't sure if you and your family wanted to hear from me or wanted to know and
I just didn't know how to approach you.
I wanted to attend her service but felt that it wasn't the right time to meet you.
I held back and have been waiting for something to happen and I knew one day this day would come.
I remember running over to the vehicle and my mind and heart was racing as I
looked inside both cars. I saw a woman holding your son then I went over to the other car.
Then I came back to your daughter's side, and I couldn't open the door, so I just reached in and
somehow I was able to open the door, but the door was somewhat jammed but I grabbed it and
with a force that can only be described as a power that was not mine I was able to rip the door open so that I could get into the car.
I noticed smoke from the front of the car and I ran to the clinic to get a
fire extinguisher and came back but it was just water from the radiator.
After that I didn't leave your daughter's side. I held her and comforted her the
best I could. I talked to her and told her to stay with me, to feel me and that I wouldn't leave her.
Sadly she never responded to me. To me she was asleep and I prayed to myself that she wouldn't feel any pain.
I know that she didn't. She was peaceful.
She looked like a sleeping angel.
I know if I were to see her face again it would bring so much emotion from
that evening that to tell honestly I don't know what I would feel or even could say to you.
When I see her in a picture in a paper or see her face on a flyer on a car I can feel her presence.
I still do cry at times when I dream of her or when I leave her flowers on her memorial. She still affects me."
John, "Some people only dream of Angels, but you also held one in your Arms." Be at Peace and God Bless you always.
OFFICERS
Richard J. McCool -
Kerry Platow -
Charles C. Weaver -
Richard Misbach -
Robert Force -
Dan Peltier
Thank you for all the man hours you have worked
so diligently to investigate and reconstruct
the accident,
so my children can have a chance on
getting justice.
My sincere thanks to Jeremy Pawlosky from the Albuquerque Journal
who provided us with immediate information
and weekly coverage, therefore allowing the City of Rio Rancho
to get involved in this case and become aware that
this should have never happened in this small town.
My extended thanks to Channel 7 and Channel 4 Television network,
and to the Business Community of Rio Rancho for supplying food for the mourners.
Jerry Moya has a long criminal record, more than 20 felonies and only 8 convictions for all his crimes.
Armed Robbery, Burglary, Contraband, DWI and Drug Offenses.
According to court records, a previous 1993 DWI charges against him were dismissed in 1994, in
March 1999 Moya received a four and a half year prison sentence which was suspended, and instead
he was given four and a half years of probation for serious drug offense in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
NOW I ASK, WHY WAS THIS CRIMINAL OUT ON PROBATION INSTEAD OF JAIL? If he was kept in jail this
tragedy in our lives wouldn't have happened. Jerry Moya eluded the Criminal Justice System long enough, and
will have to pay the price for his actions and perhaps feel some remorse for what he did, since he mocked us at his sentecing,
by claiming he is a victim of society and what he did "just happened" because "he couldn't help it".
Disclaimer: All information written
are of public record and opinions expressed are written as: "It is of my opinion"
which is granted by our constitutional rights.
Please take a moment to visit Impact DWI and a very powerful message on underage drinking, binge drinking and drunk driving.
