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Father Grieves Loss of Son in Early Morning Accident

Posted: Dec 31, 2012 9:13 PM by Morgan Frances - MFrances@kristv.com
Updated: Dec 31, 2012 10:36 PM


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CORPUS CHRISTI - A local family is in mourning this New Year's Eve after a deadly wreck early this morning in which police believe the driver was drunk. 22-year-old Jonathan Aleman died when the SUV he was riding in rolled over at Staples and Kostroyz around 5:45 AM. Aleman was not wearing a seatbelt and died after he was thrown from the SUV.

Tonight, the driver of that SUV, 22-year-old Michael Valenzuela, is in jail for intoxication manslaughter. Manuel Aleman, Jonathan's dad, says he's is still in shock, yet, starting to realized what life will be like without his 22-year-old son.

"No more, 'Hi dad. Happy New Years,'" Manuel Aleman said, "No, 'Dad, Happy birthday.' No, 'Hey, they have this certain movie on.'"

Jonathan's facebook page was flooded with comments from his friends talking about the kind of patient and loving person Jonathan was. His father described him as a handy guy; He said his son always loved tinkering on his car and hoping to, some day, become an aviation mechanic. The accident, however, ended that dream abruptly.

"It's kind of hard to accept with his age," said Manuel, "but what can you do? What can you do?"

Jonathan's dad says his son loved working, loved going to church, loved his friends and especially loved spending time with his family. Now, though, his dad won't get to see him at an altar getting married and he won't get to see his son have kids of his own some day.

"It's like somebody grabbing your heart and just crushing it," he said.

Manuel, who remembers all the times they watched football together, barbecued outside on the grill or just hung out watching T.V., says there is one simple thing he'll miss the most about his son.

"One of the things I miss about my son is seeing him in the morning saying, 'hi.'"

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