LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Family members of a young woman left with life-altering injuries after a crash say they are relieved to see formal charges against the driver who told police he intentionally caused the collision.
A Lubbock grand jury indicted 20-year-old Javier Valenzzuela, after he told police he intentionally rammed into another vehicle with his passenger car as part of a suicide attempt.
He’s charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting in brain injury or paralysis and two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Gracey Breischopf, 23, suffered serious injuries in the crash, her former college roomate, Mkenna McFadden, 25, suffered moderate injuries and a 61-year-old who was driving a minivan suffered minor injuries. They were all taken to UMC for treatment.
Breitschopf has shown remarkable improvement since suffering a traumatic brain injury and severe spinal cord injury in the crash 45 days ago, according to her family members.
“Much improved. She improves every day,” said Steve Osborn, Gracey’s grandfather.
When family members last spoke with KCBD in December, Gracey was still using hand signals to communicate. Since then, she has slowly improved every single day, said Bailey Coleman, Gracey’s cousin.
“Well, from being told that she had no meaningful brain activity to now. I mean, last night I walked into the hospital and she was, I have a Shih Tzu and she’s like, ‘Where’s Indy?’ ‘I came from school. She’s not with me.’ She said, ‘Well, you better at least send me a video,’” Coleman said.
Gracey now has more movement in her right arm and has been able to communicate through typing on the phone. After recently getting her trach removed, she can speak.
“Thank you for all the prayer,” she said in a recent video.
Her family says they are encouraged to see her personality returning.
“I told her the other day, I’m sorry I’m smiling so much. I just love to hear your voice. And she looked at me and rolled her eyes and said, yeah, my dad does too,” Coleman said.
Osborn said the “accident” that led to Gracey’s injuries occurred six weeks ago last Saturday, before Coleman jumped in saying it wasn’t an accident. Valenzzuela told police officers he intentionally hit another car in an attempt to take his own life.
“I am angry,” Coleman said. “Yeah, but I’m working on it. I’m praying about it. But it just, it makes me sick to think about. So I try to keep my focus on Gracey and her healing.”
Coleman said it was a relief to see formal charges against Valenzzuela.
“When somebody makes that serious of a bad decision, the consequences need to be serious,” Osborn said. “This is a step in that direction for us to maybe get some closure. I don’t know if you ever get closure, but at least we know that the system’s working.”
While aggravated assault is a second-degree felony, the charge for Gracey’s injuries could result in a first-degree felony since she was left with a traumatic brain injury and paralysis.
“I mean, what Gracie will have to deal with is lifelong. So I feel that, I mean, not everything can be fair in the world, but it would make sense if his consequences were also lifelong,” Coleman said.
The family says they are thanking God that Gracey went from needing a miracle to live to being amazed at everyday moments.
“Looking back in my journal from those first couple days in the hospital and seeing how my prayers went from so panicked and desperate to then, there was one from, like, Christmas Eve. I was like, I’m sitting here and Gracie is eating a bite of potato soup,” Coleman said.
Gracey will head to Craig Hospital in Colorado on Monday for several weeks of intensive therapy. The same paramedic team that initially took her from the crash to the hospital volunteered to drive her from the hospital to the airport.
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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