MARSHALL COUNTY, Miss. — “I am here on behalf of all the families of Briarcrest to see if we can start doing something to make a change,” said Cody Holden, the father of one of the students injured in the Highway 78 crash a week ago.
Holden made it his mission to be at Marshall County Justice Court Monday to see for himself what happens with the man accused of driving drunk and hitting the van Holden’s daughter Kara was riding in a week ago.
The crash killed two of her friends.
Kara Holden survived but her dad said there’s still a long way to go.
“I am just glad she is alive. We got her out of the hospital on Thursday. She had multiple injuries, multiple broken ribs, spinal injuries, 47 stitches,” said Holden.
Holden said its time to get serious about DUIs and it’s why he showed up at Justice Court for Melandus Penson’s preliminary hearing.
Penson’s family hired a lawyer to represent him.
Penson’s attorney Rob Laher said Penson maintains the wreck was a pure accident and no one should rush to judgement until it’s determined what caused it.
“We want to investigate the case to see what caused the accident to determine whether or not it was alcohol related, or to determine if it was common accident that occurs everyday on our roadways without any fault,” he said.
In court Monday, law enforcement from the scene of the crash described smelling an intoxicant on Penson.
They also said he didn’t seem to stagger or slur his speech.
They said he helped the victims and told them the car swerved in front of him and he tried to avoid hitting it.
A Highway Patrol Officer said Penson’s sobriety test registered .14, above the .08 legal limit.
A judge bound the case over to the grand jury.
The prosecutor told WREG she will push to keep his bond at $3 million.
“To me, he is a menace to society because if he’s out on bond, there is nothing to stop him from getting in a car again and driving,” said Marshall County prosecutor Shirley Byers.
“No more daughters, no more sons, no more dads, no more moms hurt from multiple drunken drivers on the roads. We have to get them off the roads,” said Holden.
He said the families appreciate the strong community support they have received since the accident.
He planned to gather as many Briarcrest family members as he can to attend a special meeting of lawmakers, law enforcement officials and district attorneys Tuesday to discuss improvements needed in Mississippi DUI laws.
WREG will be at that meeting and have all the details.