HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – The grieving family of a 7-year-old girl who was killed in a crash Sunday night appeared in court to face the accused driver at-fault.
Joel Gonzalez Chacin, 41, the accused driver, appeared in court Tuesday morning to face charges of intoxication manslaughter for the death of Ivory Smith, who was a 2nd-grade student at Klein ISD’s Klenk Elementary School.
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The crash, which happened in the 10900 block of Bammel North Houston Road, left Ivory’s mother, Christina Quainoo, critically injured and battling a long recovery.
“She has to learn how to walk again,” said family member, Sharhonda Collins, who also described the emotional devastation Christina faces after losing her only child. “Her life has changed. Our lives have changed. She’s never going to be the same.”
Chacin allegedly ran a red light and T-boned the family’s vehicle, causing fatal injuries to Ivory. According to Harris County prosecutors, Chacin exhibited multiple signs of intoxication at the scene.
READ: Suspected drunken driver involved in crash that killed 7-year-old girl in northwest Harris County
What shocked investigators further was his behavior immediately following the crash.
“He got out and started taking pictures of the crash instead of rendering aid,” an official from the Harris County Vehicular Crimes Division stated. “It’s behavior we’ve never encountered before.”
Court records show Chacin’s bond was set at $150,000, but with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold in place, his release remains unlikely. Prosecutors pushed for strict bond conditions, including a SCRAM ankle monitor to detect alcohol consumption.
“This is a preventable crime,” they emphasized. “Drinking and driving doesn’t just devastate one life—it leaves families destroyed.”
A family’s plea for justice
At Tuesday’s court hearing, family members of Ivory gathered to show solidarity and share their anguish.
“She didn’t deserve this. She was just on her way home from her grandma’s house,” Collins said. “He made a choice to drink and drive, and now we’re left with the pain of planning her funeral.”
The girl’s grandmother remembered her as “the center of everyone’s life,” describing her vibrant personality and love for gymnastics and dancing. “She could light up any room she entered.”
The family is also calling for legislative reform.
“The laws need to change,” Collins said. “The penalties for drinking and driving are not stiff enough, and it’s why this keeps happening. We need to fight to make sure no other family goes through this.”
Chacin is set to return to court on Feb. 6, with prosecutors awaiting toxicology reports and other evidence. For now, the family focuses on supporting the injured mother and honoring the memory of a bright young life cut tragically short.
“We just want justice for her,” Collins said. “And we want her story to be a reminder of the consequences of drunk driving.”