As an only child growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, Jacqui Saburido lived the good life. Beautiful and smart, she studied engineering with hopes of taking over her father's manufacturing business someday. In August 1999, she took a break from college and moved to Texas to study English.
After attending a party one night, Jacqui accepted a ride home from a young woman who lived near her dormitory. What she didn't know is that a young man named Reggie Stephey was driving under the influence of alcohol. On a four-lane road outside of Austin, Reggie's SUV crossed the center line and hit the car Jacqui was in—head-on. Two girls in Jacqui's car were killed instantly, and Jacqui's legs were pinned under the dashboard. She was helpless as flames engulfed her face and body. Sixty percent of her body was covered with third-degree burns.
Reggie Stephey was fined $20,000 and sentenced to seven years in prison for two counts of intoxication manslaughter.
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