Jacqueline Saburido

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Jacqueline Saburido (born December 20, 1978 in Caracas , Venezuela ; † April 20, 2019 in Guatemala ) received worldwide attention because she has been actively involved in the media against driving under the influence of alcohol since an accident as a victim with severe burns .

accident

On September 19, 1999, Saburido, a Venezuelan studying English in the United States, attended a birthday party near Austin, Texas . After a while, she and her friends Laura Guerrero, Johan Daal and Johanna Gil decided to make their way home and took the opportunity to ride with another friend, Natalia Chpytchak Bennett. At the same time, Reginald Stephey, an 18-year-old high school student, was also on his way home from a party where he had been drinking beer. An accident occurred on the outskirts of Austin between Bennett and Stephey's cars. In the collision, Guerrero and Bennett died instantly, Gil and Daal suffered minor injuries. The car caught fire immediately and as Jacqueline Saburido's feet were trapped, she could not break free. Only after helpers succeeded in putting out the fire could she be freed and flown to a special clinic for fire victims in Galveston, Texas .

After the accident

Contrary to the expectations of the doctors Saburido survived with burns second and third degree burns to 60% of their skin. Jacqueline Saburido, who lost hair, nose, ears and lips, among other things, has been operated on over 120 times since the accident and tried to have a full face transplant .

Reginald Stephey was sentenced in June 2001 to two seven-year prison terms and a payment of US $ 20,000.

After her accident, Jacqueline Saburido decided to get involved to make the public aware of the dangers and consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and the dangers of improper driving in general. For example, she allowed her severely disfigured face to be photographed for use in a photo campaign. This was followed, among other things, by a collaboration with the United States Department of Transportation , a documentary by Discovery Communications and numerous TV appearances worldwide, including in shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show . Here Saburido met the mother of the person who caused the accident. After the show, Winfrey said that Saburido had been one of her dearest guests throughout her career, as she shone with inner beauty despite her fate.

Subsequently, Saburido and Stephey met, during the conversation Saburido forgave him. He then stated:

"What sticks out in my mind is, 'Reggie, I don't hate you." It's really touching someone can look you in the eyes and have that much compassion after all that I have caused. "

- German : Your words: “Reggie, I don't hate you” can't get out of my head. It is touching how much compassion she has for me after all that I have caused.

Stephey served the full term in prison and was released from the Huntsville Unit State Prison in June 2008 after a 2005 parole was denied.

Saburido died of cancer on April 20, 2019.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Don't drink and drive. Jacqui's Story ( Memento from June 16, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ^ TV spot, Don't drink and drive
  3. ↑ Jacqueline Saburido - Face Transplant
  4. ↑ Sentencing Report Austin News
  5. ^ Another condemnation report, Austin News
  6. ^ Message to Drunk Drivers
  7. ↑ Victim forgives newly-released drunk driver ( Memento of the original from June 28, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Victim forgives drunk driver, Texas Cable News report  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.txcn.com
  8. ↑ Reginald Stephey Released from Prison News at Austin, Report
  9. ↑ Woman who was terribly disfigured after being hit by drunk driver dies of cancer aged 40 from April 22, 2019 in metro.co.uk
personal data
SURNAME Saburido, Jacqueline
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Venezuelan woman who has campaigned against driving under the influence of alcohol since an accident
DATE OF BIRTH December 20, 1978
PLACE OF BIRTH Caracas , Venezuela
DATE OF DEATH April 20, 2019
Place of death Guatemala