A Texas family is fighting for justice after a seven-year-old girl was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant in a drunken driving crash earlier this month.
Joel González Chacin, 41, was charged with intoxication manslaughter for the death of Ivory Smith, a second-grade student at Klenk Elementary School in Houston.
“We have so many memories of Ivory,” Collins told Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy.
“She was such a vibrant star for us. She loved the spotlight. She loved dancing. She loved gymnastics. She had a YouTube channel and we’ll just miss her. She was always that smile, you see. She always smiled, and we didn’t protect her. The laws of Texas didn’t protect her.
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Ivory Smith, 7, was killed and her mother seriously injured when authorities said a man allegedly driving drunk crashed into their car. (GoFundMe)
Authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital that the 41-year-old migrant was intoxicated at the time Christina Smith and her daughter Ivory with T-beans at 2:45 a.m. on December 1.
Police said Chacin took photos of the crash scene “instead of helping” and then drove away. The two victims were only a few minutes from home.
‘Unfortunately he didn’t care. He didn’t care that there was a mother and daughter in that car,” Collins said. “He did something wrong. He didn’t try to help. He didn’t try to call for help. He got out. He took pictures and tried to run.”
Fox 26 Houston reported that court records showed Chacin had previously been placed with another ICE hold earlier this year after he was arrested for assaulting a family member in June.
The assault charge against him was eventually dismissed as a misdemeanor and after pleading guilty, Chacin was sentenced to 113 days in jail, which he had already served, and was released that same day. The ICE detention order against him was also lifted that same day for an unknown reason.
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“We want the laws in Texas to be stricter,” Collins said. “When they make the decision to drink and drive, they’re making the decision to potentially go to jail for a longer sentence because they don’t give us those choices when we’re driving down the street just trying to get home.”
“I should be able to drive. People in Texas should be able to get in their cars and get home safely if we do everything right,” she continued. “We don’t have to worry about anyone drinking and driving on the street.”
According to a statement from the family, the mother, who has been released from the hospital, “continues to endure tremendous pain physical and emotional painof the accident.
“My niece lost her only child. Her father lost his only daughter,” Collins said. “Our family has lost Ivory, who we loved throughout the family. She was one of our youngest in the family and we are only seeking justice.”
“We are trying to change these laws because it is unfair. Like you guys say, it’s 12 days before Christmas and we’re planning a funeral instead of trying to celebrate Christmas,” she continued.
Peter Pinedo and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten of Fox News contributed to this report.
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