Fifteen years ago, on July 19, 2010, a Ford Expedition carrying four teenage girls in Houston was struck by a driver who ran a red light. Roshanda Raleigh, 17; Avianca Cortez, 13; and Detrihanna Davis, 13, were killed, and 14-year-old Benesha Davis, who survived the crash, died by suicide a month later, according to KHOU. The driver, Sajjan Timoshina, went to Nepal before he could be arrested and has not faced justice. Crime Stoppers of Houston and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office recently released a video and asked the public for information.
Andy Kahan, Director of Victim Services for Crime Stoppers of Houston, reflected on the tragedy, saying, "She survived the crash, but she did not survive the pain," capturing the lasting suffering of survivor Benesha Davis. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, who was part of the initial response, added, "I vividly remember this case. I remember when he fled like a coward before we could file charges," as the suspect, Timoshina, faces six charges including intoxication manslaughter, though extradition from Nepal remains difficult.
Teare stressed the moral responsibility of bringing the suspect to justice, stating, "This is simply doing what’s right," while the victims’ families continue appealing to Congress, federal agencies, and the Nepalese government for assistance. Roxanne Cortez shared her pain, saying, "Instead of school dances, graduations and weddings, I had to prepare my sister for her funeral," reflecting the families' grief and ongoing demand for accountability, as reported by Click2Houston.
