LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Lubbock family says their lives were changed forever when police say a 20-year-old man intentionally crashed into their loved one’s car as part of a suicide attempt last month.
Gracey Breitschopf, 23, remains in the trauma ICU at UMC after suffering a traumatic brain injury, severe spinal cord injury, broken ribs and torn neck ligaments in the Nov. 29 crash near 34th Street and University Avenue. She was in a coma for eight days and is now on a ventilator, though she can respond through hand signals.
Police arrested Javier Valenzzuela after he told officers he hit another car on purpose. According to the police report, Valenzzuela told police he was emotionally upset and had consumed five shots of alcohol before driving.
Valenzzuela was charged with three counts of aggravated assault as three people were hurt in the crash. Breitschopf, a recent West Texas A&M graduate who had just started a new marketing job in Lubbock, suffered the most serious injuries.
Breitschopf was on her way to a concert with her old college roommate, hoping to spend a fun night catching up, when the crash occurred.
“I hugged her on her way out and I was like, have fun tonight, be safe,” said Sydney Coleman, Breitschopf’s cousin. “And I mean, she was, but it’s one of those things that you can be as safe as possible, but you don’t know what other people are gonna do.”
Her grandfather, Steve Osborn, said the family is still struggling to understand why someone would intentionally cause such harm.
“That’s been the hardest part to wrap our heads around, why a young man would do that on purpose, you know, turn his lights off so they couldn’t see him coming and run the red light,” Osborn said.
Coleman said Valenzzuela’s decision instantly changed Breitschopf’s life and the life of their family forever.
“These are injuries that she will deal with for the rest of her life,” Coleman said. “We’ve already seen so many miracles. We’ve already seen so much healing take place, but these are very long-term, long road of recovery type of injuries.”
The family has received significant community support, with $15,000 in donations raised within 24 hours of the crash.
Osborn says even strangers have checked in on Breitschopf, after following her story online.
“We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future,” Osborn said. “And we know that she’s got the support she needs and we’ll be there for her.”
Coleman said the family wants people to see Breitschopf beyond a name in a crash report.
“Making sure that people can kind of put a face in a story to who Gracie is, not just the girl in the news story, but the Gracie that we know and love,” Coleman said.
Regarding Valenzzuela, Osborn said the family wants to ensure he can never do something like this again, and they wouldn’t wish their situation on anyone.
“We’re not spending a lot of time or energy worried about him,” Osborn said. “We’re focused on Gracey and her recovery.”
The DA’s office must now present the case to a grand jury for potential indictment.
Anyone who wants to help support the Breitschopf family can donate to:
Travis and Jenny Breitschopf
City Bank
PO Box 5060
Lubbock, TX 79408
Attn. Connie Jackson
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