Robert Gutierrez of Corpus Christi says he didn’t just lose his truck in a hit and run wreck early this month; he also lost his freedom. But now he has it back thanks to some Action 10 viewers.
“It means a lot,” Gutierrez said. “There are some great families in this world.”
A wreck in 2004 killed Gutierrez’s son and left him paralyzed from the chest down. His truck is specially equipped to allow him to drive completely by hand which he has partial control of. Early this month someone rammed the front end of the truck in a parking lot and drove away without leaving a note. The truck needed repairs before Gutierrez could drive it again. He also says he would have a hard time coming up with the $250 insurance deductible to pay for the repairs. That’s why he has this message for the hit-and-run driver.
“I still want to have somebody accountable, but they’re not going to step up,” he said. “Karma has a way of coming back and getting you, and it will.”
On Monday, Gutierrez was able to get his truck out of the shop thanks to donations. Katherine Mejia and an anonymous donor saw Action 10’s coverage of Gutierrez’s situation on March 14 and pledged to split the cost of his deductible.
“I’ve had a lot of help throughout my years, so it’s really important to me to pay that forward,” Mejia said in an interview on March 14.
Now, with his freedom back, Gutierrez is looking forward to getting around town again.
“The feeling is great,” he said. “Just to be able to jump in my truck and take off.”
