Emotional Sentencing for Hit and Run Driver

Emotional Sentencing for Hit and Run Driver

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Story Published: Jul 8, 2009 at 5:25 PM PST

By Ryan Simms

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YAKIMA -- She nearly died at the hands of a drunk driver. Now, neither she nor her friend will ever be the same.

It's hard to forget... an accident in downtown Yakima that nearly killed two people. Wednesday, the man responsible learned of his fate..

The court sentenced Moises Cerda to 36 months in prison, along with 36 more for community service. In February, Cerda's blood-alcohol level was more than double the legal limit when he ran a red light, and plowed into Valerie Tallariti and her passenger Michael Gibbs. Cerda then fled the scene.

For Michael's mother, Debra Haye, the last five months have been the hardest of her life. "He's got so many scars," Debra says. "He's just getting his skull put back in, he's got massive staples, and scars everywhere."

Michael's injuries are still too severe for him to leave home, but Valerie did attend the sentencing, and spoke her agony since the crash.

"I'm in excruciating pain everyday and It's ruined my whole life. I had goals and I had dreams," said Valerie in her testimony before the court.

Meantime, Debra later told me she has forgiven Cerda, but that no punishment can take away her son's constant pain.

"As his mother, trying to cease that pain and not being able to do that has been very difficult... It hurts me to see him in so much pain"

Pain that both Debra and Valerie hope forces people to think twice before drinking and driving.

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