Editor:
I’m writing on behalf of a young man killed in an accident last week. That young man was my cousin Richard Vialpando.
Ever since the accident occurred his name has been all over the media, he has been blamed for this tragic accident. Richard and the other two boys are gone and we probably will never know what happened on that weary night.
Both families have been devastated by this accident and God knows what they must be going through, but as Richard’s family we feel that his name is being used to comfort others in saying that it was his fault.
The media claims he was drinking and whether he was or he wasn’t, we can’t turn time back. But also it doesn’t mean he caused the accident.
If our city and county had qualified officers to investigate all the facts, not just go out and guess what happened, maybe families could be at ease. But we don’t have those qualified people, so they sent just anybody and they guess at what they think has happened.
Until we all know what really happened, which we probably never will, people should keep their opinions to themselves because these families are already suffering and they deserve time to grieve in peace.
Zelda Pacheco
Española
(Editor’s Note: the city has nothing to do with the investigation, as it occurred far outside its jurisdiction.)