Rwandan to be charged for Texas car crash death

Vivence Bugilimfura, 23, is to be charged with intoxication manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and intoxication assault following a car crash on Sunday that killed one and injured seven, some critically in Bedford, Texas. Vivence Bugilimfura, 23, has been arrested on charges of intoxication manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and intoxication assault. Bugilimfura was arrested on the scene and remains in jail on a $250,000 bail. Intoxication manslaughter in Texas attracts between 2-20 years in prison upon conviction while driving while intoxicated attracts a maximum sentence of 180 days in prison. If found guilty of intoxication assault the punishment ranges from 2-10 years in prison. One Rwandan passed away while seven people, including one Burundian, were injured, in a van wreck in Bedford, Texas early Sunday morning local time. The deceased has been identified as Lynker Kabera, a student at Briar Cliff University, Iowa. The others involved are: Sandra Ineza Niyibizi, 21, a senior in a college in Maryland, who is reportedly in a coma; Marie Blanche Gahozo, a graduate of Buena Vista University (BVU); Cedric Somayire, 27, a student in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, BVU graduate Ornella Mugabo, 22, and Christelle Gihozo. The Burundian national has been identified as Bob Masunzu, 24. According to one of the parents of the injured Rwandans, the victims were coming from a graduation ceremony on Saturday. “They had decided to hire a van owned by a local Rwandan businessman, who then offered to chauffeur them to and from the event. Following the graduation ceremony a party was held at the home of the graduate’s parents. The driver drank a lot of alcohol at this party”, said the parent. According to Bedford police spokesman Lt. David Smith Bugilimfura apparently lost control while the van was on the TEXpress lanes of Highway 183 near Central Drive. The van rolled over ejecting the nine people inside. Lt. Smith says the van caught fire after the wreck. Two medical helicopters took patients to hospitals in Fort Worth, six other patients were taken to area hospitals by ground ambulance.

News

Rwandan to be charged for Texas car crash death