A grieving family is outraged after a suspected drunk driver, who killed their 11-year-old son after his car crashed into the car the youngster was in, has been released by an awoken judge, without bail .
Ryan Ambrose lost his life in the accident last Saturday night that occurred in Portland, Oregon.
It is alleged that the suspect, 29-year-old Duprie Smith, was driving at speeds of over 85 mph at the time of the accident when he crashed directly into Ryan’s vehicle. Ryan was sitting in the back seat of the car and bore the brunt of the impact.
Smith was said to be running towards the hospital after being shot at his younger brother’s funeral.
Police recorded a blood-alcohol content of .116, meaning he would have been significantly impaired at the time of the accident and was substantially over the legal drink-driving limit.
Ryan was visiting family in Portland from out of state when the fatal accident occurred.
Ryan Ambrose, 11, died after the car he was traveling in was struck by a suspected drunk driver
Duprie Smith, 29, was released without bail by a judge following an 85mph car crash that killed 11-year-old Ryan Ambrose.
Ryan’s car, which his aunt was driving, was crashed at an intersection in Portland.
The dash cam reportedly shows Smith speeding, weaving his way through traffic and running through red lights before crashing into the sedan carrying Ryan at an intersection.
Ryan sustained serious, life-threatening injuries in the accident, and despite a witness performing CPR at the scene, he was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Such was Smith’s speed, his vehicle flipped over and he traveled an entire city block before coming to a stop.
He was arrested for DUII (Driving Under the Influence) and manslaughter, but was shockingly released from Multnomah County Jail without bail.
Although the district attorney requested that Smith’s bail be set at $100,000, Judge Michael Greenlick released him on the condition that he not drive, use a drink-monitoring device and not enter any bars.
Duprie Smith was driving under the influence when she killed 11-year-old Ryan Ambrose in Portland, Oregon on July 8.
Such was Smith’s speed, his vehicle flipped over and he traveled an entire city block before coming to a stop.
Although the district attorney requested that Smith’s bail be set at $100,000, Judge Michael Greenlick released him on the condition that he not drive, use a drink-monitoring device and not enter any bars. Smith looks left in court
Smith posted on Facebook that he was glad to be alive, but did not mention the name of the boy who died in the crash.
“I am releasing him because I believe he will meet these conditions of release,” Greenlick testified in court.
Ryan’s family shared their frustration with Smith’s release and believe he should remain locked up until his court hearing in August.
‘It’s not fair what happened. I feel like as a community we should come together,” said Daniela, Ryan’s cousin in KOIN. “Put yourself in our shoes and imagine this happening to your family.”
The family says Ryan was a fun kid who loved his comic book heroes and liked to help others.
It was incredible. He was one of the sweetest kids,” said Ryan’s aunt Jennifer Trejo, who was also in the crash.
“He was killed by a drunk driver and now this guy is at home watching TV and my grandson is on a case at the funeral home right now,” she said. fox 12.
“We think this is not fair. What are they trying to do? Wait until he kills someone else and then arrest him? He was drunk driving 90 miles per hour. He ran all the red lights. This is not fair. Where is justice? We need it. The whole family needs it.
“Please, I call on the entire community to help us,” Trejo pleaded. ‘To do justice. Please make calls, do something. Please help us. Don’t do it for us, do it for the kid. He was 11 years old. He didn’t do anything wrong to anyone.
“Please, I am calling on the entire community to help us,” Trejo said. ‘To do justice. Please make calls, do something. Please help us. Don’t do it for us, do it for the kid. He was 11 years old. He didn’t do anything wrong to anyone,’ aunt Jennifer Trejo said
The family says Ryan was a fun kid who loved his comic book heroes and liked to help others.
Ryan’s family says that he “was always very positive and knew how to comfort people at such a young age.” He was always so mature and his presence filled you with warmth and love, every time.’
Ryan is pictured with family members during a trip to Disneyland.
Relatives held vigil at the intersection where the accident occurred
Friends, family and community members lit candles and laid flowers at the scene of the accident.
Ryan’s family, who have set up a GoFundMe to pay for the funeral, say they won’t rest until Smith is behind bars.
Court records on Smith reveal that he had open gunshot wounds that were unrelated to the incident.
Appearing in court this week, Smith was asked why he was driving while injured.
A lawyer who spoke on his behalf explained that there had been a shooting at his younger brother’s funeral and that an ambulance did not arrive fast enough. He decided to drive to the hospital because he believed that he was “bleeding out”.
Ryan’s family, who have established a GoFundMe to pay for the funeral expenses, they say they won’t rest until Smith is behind bars.
‘We don’t want revenge. We don’t want to hurt anyone. We just want the person who caused all this pain, all this damage, and all this trauma, to be where he belongs, where he is in jail. We will not stop until he is locked up,” Trejo said.
Smith will appear in court again on August 1.
