17-year-old Marissa Burke, a Deer Park High School student, has died as a result of being hit by a driver accused of being under the influence.
Burke was walking home from school when the driver of the vehicle, 55-year-old Leland Smith, swerved onto the sidewalk and hit her.
Burke later died at the hospital as a result of her injuries.
Smith faces charges of felony murder as a result of Burke’s death. He has three prior convictions on his record, including a felony DWI that sent him to prison.
The Burke family is asking for the maximum sentence for Smith.
Source: ABC13.com, “Man accused of DWI when 17-year-old was killed runs addiction recovery program,” November 20, 2023