The family of a 79-year-old grandmother visiting from Bogota is in mourning after the woman was killed early Saturday by a drunk driver with three previous DUIs, the Charlotte Observer is reporting.
Cecilia Buitrago de Gonzalez was on a month-long vacation in the U.S. when she died in a crash after a car driven by Ann Conkin, 23, of Clover, S.C. crossed over a median into oncoming traffic at 2 a.m.
According to Mecklenburg County police, Conkin was impaired at the time and was taken to local hospital with serious injuries, with a warrant for her arrest issued upon her release. The young woman is expected to be charged with driving under the influence, felony death by motor vehicle, felony serious injury by motor vehicle, careless/reckless driving and possession of marijuana.
According to police, Conkin is currently facing a DUI case in Clover, S.C., and was convicted of a DWI in Mecklenburg County in 2014 and DUI in York, S.C., later that same year. Court records show she received community service and probation in North Carolina, and paid fines to settle the South Carolina case.
The family of Gonzalez is stunned that Conkin was allowed to drive considering her history.
“I can’t believe this person was back on the road,” said her son-in-law Don Griffin, who explained that four people were in the car at the time of the collision, with Gonzalez in the backseat with one of her granddaughters in her lap.
“You would think (Conkin) would have learned her lesson the first time... but we are going to make sure we do everything in our power to teach her a lesson this time" Griffin stated. "This will not go away lightly. We will be in the courtroom and do everything we can do legally.”
A search of social media turned up a Vine of Conkin drinking with the caption: "Wiine"
The tagline on her Vine account reads: "Every little thing is gonna be alright."
