Questions remain years after a neighbor shot his beloved teacher in a Ford-250, killing her – Crime Online
Relatives of a Texas woman killed in a 2020 truck crash are demanding more answers after the driver who hit her did not face criminal charges.
In April 2020, Katie Palmer, of Denison, was struck and killed by an F-250 truck while she and her husband, John Palmer, were out for an evening stroll. The incident happened as the couple were crossing their neighborhood Denisonaccording to KXII.
Katie and her husband were injured, but she ultimately died hours later at a local hospital.
“My wife was thrown 75 feet, I was thrown about 70 feet, I had to crawl to my wife,” John Palmer said in 2020. “I couldn’t get up and walk, I had to crawl up to my wife and see her gasp and die right in front of me.
The driver of the truck was later identified as Cory Foster, a man who was a neighbor of the couple.
Foster told a soldier that fog on his windshield and glare from the sun may have contributed to the incident, but the soldier pushed for a breathalyzer and field sobriety test.
Foster: “I just couldn’t see because the glare was so bad. Which, I shouldn’t have driven.
Cavalier: “I feel it pretty strongly on your breath today, that’s why I’m asking you what time did you stop? What time did you have your last?
Cory: “Seven hours probably.”
Rider: “Seven?”
Cory: “Mhmm.”
Foster blew a .06 on his breathalyzer test, which is a legal intoxication .08 in Texas. The soldier ended up taking Foster home.
Months later, a grand jury decided not to bring charges of manslaughter or criminal negligence against Foster. However, House Bill 558 was introduced and eventually adopted as an act after his death.
John Palmer, according to ABC 7, has been a strong advocate for the bill, which ensures that motorists undergo a blood alcohol test in the event of a motor vehicle accident”causes serious bodily injury or kills a pedestrian.”
“This law won’t help my family, and it won’t help the Carneys, but it might help the next family,” Palmer said. “If there was an act that happened like what happened with my wife and I, a reckless and dangerous act where alcohol was a contributing factor, that person will be held accountable.”
A criminal case was brought against Foster a second time, but, again, a grand jury declined to prosecute.
Relatives are now pushing for Foster to be blamed for the incident.
“We want justice. We want Cory Foster charged with manslaughter and negligence,” a page dedicated to Katie’s case read, alleging that Foster is a habitual offender with vehicular crimes.
The Palmer family now has a lawsuit pending against Foster in civil court. According to court recordsa jury trial in that case is scheduled for October 17.
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[Featured image: Handout]