Mother to mother, tear to tear, grief over DUI death
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A picture of grief and hope: Two families joined together in sadness in a Fresno courtroom. One lost a daughter headed for a beautiful future. The other is losing a daughter to a long prison sentence.
"There's just, there's not enough words to describe neither the pain nor the loss," said Bill Johnson.
His daughter Regan was just 24 years old when a drunk driver crashed into her on a construction site on Highway 99 in July 2012.
Johnson signed up to work just four days with Caltrans. Alyssa Villanueva killed her on her second day.
The void left behind is massive for dozens of people who showed up in court Monday, but they came with forgiveness in their hearts and the desire to see Villanueva make a change in her own life and the lives of others.
Regan Johnson's external beauty was easy to see. And as the valedictorian of the Kingsburg High School class of 2006, and a summa cum laude graduate of Fresno State, her brain was equally impressive. By all accounts, she had the heart to match.
"Everyone who knew her was truly better for it," said Grace Patterson, her best friend. "So this question is not 'How much this unspeakable loss has affected me?' because it is so much bigger than that. The question is 'what could've been?'"
Johnson's life ended two years ago on Highway 99 when Alyssa Villanueva drove drunk, crashed into a construction site, and hit her. Villanueva had a prior DUI as well.
Her friends and family formed a 50-strong army of "Regan's Angels" 22 months later, as Villanueva admitted her guilt, and spared them the anguish of a trial.
"Alyssa, I want to thank you for standing up and doing the right thing," said Bill Johnson. "You admitted guilt and that was a big step."
As Johnson's family cried, so did Villanueva.
The 28-year-old's family said she too was a good student and usually a good example. And they talked about the condolences they wish they could've given sooner.
"I desperately wanted to say I was so sorry and give you hugs," said Irene Martinez, Villanueva's mother.
Martinez soon got her wish, as Malan Johnson got up and embraced her, mother to mother, tear to tear.
Johnson's family came to forgive, and with a hope for Villanueva's future.
"My request is that you consider taking a cue from Regan and do whatever you can to bring light to darkness," said Andrea Johnson, the victim's aunt.
DUI killer's tearful apology to family of Kingsburg valedictorian
"I'm sorry for all the tears you've shed, for all the nights you've sat up crying and asking yourself why," Alyssa Villanueva said to the family of Regan Johnson.
Villanueva has had 22 months to think about what she did; about why she refused a friend's request to sleep it off, or call another driver, about why she swerved into a well-lit construction site, and crashed into a worker, about why she killed Regan Johnson.
"I've spent many nights questioning god and asking him why," she said. "Wishing it was me, wishing for a different outcome."
Johnson was just 24 -- a six-foot-tall blonde known for her beauty, inside and out. She helped run the Big Creek General Store near Huntington Lake with her mother. But the summa cum laude Fresno State graduate had earned her teacher's credential and her father remembers her as a natural for the job.
"She influenced people, I don't care if they were 2 years old or 85, 90 years old," said Bill Johnson.
Her influence extended to the people now calling themselves "Regan's Angels" as they represented her voice in court. They came with forgiveness in their hearts, driven by what they believe their angel would've wanted.
"Were Regan here beside us, she would be trying to figure out how best to help you," Andrea Johnson said to Villanueva.
And Villanueva pledged to live up to their expectations. The 28-year-old's apology came first in the form of a letter she read in court. But when she finished, she continued, off script and from the heart, giving Johnson's family hope she'll make her future count.
"I'm so sorry," she said. "I never meant to hurt anybody. I never meant to cause pain to your family and not to my family. And I will pay it forward and I will talk about this day."
Villanueva will serve a sentence of 17 years and four months in prison. She could be out by the age of 43.
