Suspected drunk driver indicted today

           Today, A Lubbock grand jury indicted a suspected drunk driver on charges of intoxicated manslaughter.          
           21 year old Rochelle Ranson is accused of hitting 55-year-old Monte Wampler as he rode his motorcycle last month.

            “He had been sober for over a year, and it's very ironic that he was allegedly killed by a drunk driver,” said Michael Patton, one of Wampler’s friends.

Ironic, because Wampler had been on his way home from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting when police say Ranson hit him.  And according to police, Ranson then tried to flee the scene, and backed over Wampler again.

That second blow is what killed him.

“That’s one of those things,” Patton said.  “And you think about it, and you go man, here's this guy sober, and then somebody drunk runs over him.

But today, a Lubbock grand jury decided the evidence is there to try Ranson for the crime.  She was indicted on intoxicated manslaughter charges.

Patton says along with the charges... Ranson needs alcohol counseling.  Counseling that had once saved Wampler from the disease.

“The girl needs help, in the worst possible way,” said Patton.  “She needs some help.”        But even with help... what happened can't be erased. If convicted... Ranson could spend up to 20 years behind bars.

But even the friends left behind don't wish bad things for Ranson.  If anything, Patton wishes hope to those suffering from alcoholism.

“You know, you don't have to live like this,” said Patton.  “You don't have to live your life as a lie, is what I call it.  I think most people who are drunks, they drink to hide from reality.  And life's much too beautiful to hide from, to medicate it with alcohol.