Every Face Tells a Story. Hers is a Painful One.
Jacqueline Saburido was taking a break from college when she came to the United States to study English. A drunk driving crash changed her life completely.
Jacqui Saburido Before
Jacqui Saburido was born and grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. An only child, she lived with her father after her parents divorced. She loved going to the beach, dancing, and hanging out with her friends. Jacqui wanted to help her dad run his air conditioning factory after she finished her industrial engineering studies at the university. But first she wanted to learn to speak to English. She had been at a private language school in Austin, Texas for less than a month when the crash occurred that nearly killed her.
» See Jacqui’s Family Photos
The Crash
September 19, 1999
Natalia Bennett and four friends were headed home from a birthday party in West Austin. Her front seat passenger was Jacqui Saburido. It was a little past 4 in the morning on Sunday, September 19, 1999. Reggie Stephey, 18, also was on his way home. He had been drinking.
Less than a mile from his driveway, Reggie drifted across the center stripe and hit Natalia’s car head on. Natalia Bennett and Laura Guerrero died at the scene. Jacqui suffered third degree burns over 60% of her body after the car caught fire.
Hear the 911 Call
The Driver » Reggie Stephey
Reggie Stephey was a senior at Lake Travis High School outside of Austin. A self-described jock, he had hopes of going to college on an athletic scholarship. But those dreams disappeared when he wound up drinking beer with friends and tried to drive home.
He drifted across the centerline and crashed his SUV into a car with 5 people. Two died on the spot, and Jacqui Saburido almost burned to death when the car caught fire.
Reggie was convicted of two counts of intoxication manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in the state penitentiary.
He was released in 2008 and lives in Austin, Texas.
Reggie Discusses a Typical Day in Prison
The Long Road
to Recovery
Photo credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez and the Austin American-Statesman
The only thing Jacqui remembers about the crash is the whir of the blades on the helicopter that came to rush her to the hospital. Extensive third-degree burns scorched her eyes and left her blind, melted off her hair, took her ears, lips, nose, and eyelids, and robbed her of the use of her hands. Doctors did not expect her to survive.
But she did.
Jacqui has had more than 100 operations in the last 10 years. Her medical bills topped $5 million five years ago, and she says she’s lost count of the total expenses. She has no health insurance.
» View Photos And Read MoreChanged Forever
Photo credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez and the Austin American-Statesman
The carefree, fun-filled life Jacqui once knew as a teenager in Caracas is gone forever. Her appearance and her ability to live independently went up in flames more than 10 years ago. She fights depression every single day. Her plans for a career and family are in jeopardy. At 32, she is unsure of what the future holds.
Hear Jacqui Describe Her Feelings Today
A Father’s Devotion
Amadeo Saburido, Jacqui’s father, has been by her side from the start. He left his business, his home, and his country to nurse Jacqui back to health and take care of her. Days turned into months, months into years. He dressed her, bathed her, and fed her. He was there before and after every operation.
Hear Jacqui Talk About Her Father
Jacqui and Amadeo still share a home on a hillside in Caracas.
He remains the single most important person in her life.
A Day in the Life of Jacqui
Photo credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez and the Austin American-Statesman
Jacqui used to feel sorry for herself and cry every day – for five minutes. And then she got on with what she had to do. Doctors appointments. Surgeries. Therapy. Talking on the phone with friends. Trips. Emails.
Over time, she has regained some of her vision and some use of her hands. The life she now has is not the life she expected or one she ever wanted.
Hear Jacqui Talk About How She Spends Her Time
Jacqui’s Mission
Photo credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez and the Austin American-Statesman
At a press conference in 2001, Jacqui valiantly said, “Even if it means sitting here in front of a camera with no ears, no nose, no eyebrows, no hair, I’ll do this a thousand times if it will help someone make a wise decision.” Her desire to spare others from the horrors she has gone through lead Jacqui to participate in the Texas Department of Transportation’s campaign urging people not to drink and drive, as well as attend press events and speak at gatherings of safety advocates and law enforcement officers. She’s granted dozens of interviews all over the world. She’s even been on The Oprah Winfrey Show. By last count, one BILLION people worldwide have heard her story.
Hear Jacqui Talk About Her Mission
Gratitude
Some days she receives a bundle of letters from kids in school. People send donations to help pay for the costs of her operations. She gets greeting cards and stuffed animals. Children draw her pictures. People recognize her on the street and say hello. Jacqui touches people, and in turn, she is touched by them and their outpouring of love and support.
Hear Jacqui Express Her Appreciation
The Law:
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
A person is legally intoxicated and may be arrested and charged with DWI with a .08 BAC (blood or breath alcohol concentration). However, drivers can be stopped and cited when impaired due to alcohol or other drugs regardless of BAC. Whether you’re the driver or the passenger, you can be fined up to $500 for having an open alcohol container in a vehicle.
DWI Penalties
First Offense:
- Up to a $2,000 fine
- Up to 180 days in jail upon conviction (mandatory three days in jail)
- Loss of driver’s license up to a year
- $1,000 annual surcharge for three years to retain driver’s license
Second Offense
- Up to a $4,000 fine
- Up to one year in jail upon conviction
- Loss of driver’s license up to two years
- Mandatory five days in jail if defendant receives probation
- $1,500 annual surcharge for three years to retain driver’s license
Third offense
- Up to a $10,000 fine
- Two to ten years in prison
- Loss of driver’s license up to two years
- Mandatory 10–60 days in jail if defendant receives probation
- $2,000 annual surcharge for three years to retain driver’s license
Underage Drinking
Any amount of alcohol is off limits if you’re under 21.
HERE’S THE LAW
MIP: If you are under 21, it means no alcohol—no attempt to buy it, none in your possession, none if you are driving.
DUI: If you’re under 21, it is illegal for you to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in your system.
MINOR IN POSSION (MIP)
If you’re a minor (under 21), here’s what happens the first time you are found in possession of alcohol. Any amount of beer, wine or liquor can trigger the penalties.
- Up to a $500 fine
- Loss of driver’s license for 30 to 180 days
- Eight to 40 hours of community service
- Mandatory alcohol awareness classes
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI)
Punishment for DUI varies depending on your age at the time of citation.
If you're under 21
Here’s what happens the first time you are stopped with any amount of alcohol in your system:
- Up to a $500 fine
- 60-day driver’s license suspension
- 20 to 40 hours of community service
- Mandatory alcohol awareness classes
If you’re 17 or older
Drivers 17 and older can also face DWI criminal penalties. Here’s what happens if you’re stopped for drinking and driving with a blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater:
- Up to a $2,000 fine
- Three to 180 days in jail
- Driver’s license suspension for 90 days to a year
About every 20 minutes, someone is hurt or killed in Texas in a crash involving alcohol.
In 2009, there were more than 27,000 alcohol-related crashes in Texas that resulted in nearly 1000 deaths and more than 17,500 injuries.
In 2009, nearly one third of total traffic fatalities in Texas were caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol.
According to crash records from 2009, Texans between the ages of 17 and 24 accounted for one of every four of all drinking and driving deaths. However, this age group represents only 8 percent of the overall population in Texas. (from Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Reports)
