Teenage pranksters deserve punishment

    by Roxanna Latifi

    After learning of the fatal accident involving Bennigan's waitress Jennifer Sanchez, I couldn't help but question the ethics of people.

    When do people draw the line between practical jokes and serious encounters?

    Sarah Foust, 18, of Irving; Kortnie Henson, 19, of Midlothian; David Thornton, 19, of Duncanville, along with one other suspect yet to be found, dined at Bennigan's one night amassing a $100 tab.

    All four suspects skipped out on the bill and tried to drive away. They hit Sanchez as she was trying to get the license plate number, causing severe brain damage.

    Underage Foust was under the influence of alcohol when she drove the car into Sanchez.

    Nothing is more stupid than driving while under the influence, and I hope Sanchez's killers are harshly punished.

    Three of the four suspects were arrested a mile from the restaurant. The incident could have been an accident, but after hitting Sanchez with their car, the group fled the scene without any remorse for Sanchez.

    Some might say that the burden of killing Sanchez is punishment enough. But after the four left her there to die, I have no empathy for them.

    Sanchez lay there, her body surrounded by her own blood and her skull and brain traumatized. Her injuries were fatal.

    The 20 year old died while undergoing surgery to repair damage to her brain.

    Daniel Sanchez Jr., father of Jennifer, said in an interview after his daughter's death that his heart goes out to his daughter's killers. Hearing Sanchez's forgiving words made my heart sink. He is certainly a better man than most.

    The devastating incident with the young college student should be a lesson learned.

    We should evaluate possible consequences and realize we don't always have control. Better yet, we should consider the consequences that may affect others.

    Maybe if these four had done so, we could sit at Sanchez's table at Bennigan's.

    No one should have died that night in Bennigan's parking lot. Sanchez was simply doing her job, and it cost her life. She believed she was doing the right thing in trying to catch the four who were not, and they killed her. Maybe they didn't intentionally run her over, but they didn't even feel the need to stop to help save her.

    What started probably as a prank ended up as a tragedy these four suspects will regret and pay for the rest of their lives.