A drunk driver is raising money for the family of the man he killed, KABC reported.
Tyler Thompson, now 26, was driving drunk on the wrong side of Freeway 210 in Asuza when he killed 19-year-old Justin Romo in August 2014. Though Thompson initially pleaded not guilty, he later changed his plea to no contest and apologized to Romo’s family in court, KABC said.
“ ‘I pray I could change places and be the one gone,’ ” Tina Thompson recalls her son telling the court. “It was crazy, in this courtroom the judge was crying, the court reporter was crying,” she said.
Tyler Thompson was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
With his family’s help, Thompson set up a GoFundMe page for the Romo family. Thompson said his goal wasn’t to make restitution, but to uplift the Romo family and warn others about the dangers of drunk driving.
Lupe Garcia, the victim’s mother, said she was overwhelmed and moved by Thompson’s efforts to help her family and bring awareness to all families affected by drunk driving.
Garcia said she has forgiven Thompson. “I gave it to God. I said, ‘Tyler Thompson is all yours,’ ” she said.