Woman must pay thousands after running over teens

A Luling driver who ran over three teens last year while allegedly texting on her phone will avoid jail time but will have to pay thousands of dollars in damages after pleading guilty to three counts of negligent injuring, according to court documents.

Last August, witnesses told police that Stephanie L. Clay, 42, of 1173 N. Luling Estates Drive, was texting on her cell phone when her car hopped a curb and hit three Hahnville students. Clay was originally charged with texting while operating a motor vehicle, reckless operation and three counts of negligent injuring.

Treval Dunmiles, 18, Joseph Kirch, 16 and Joseph Rafiel, 18, were struck while playing with their cell phones on Rafiel’s front lawn on Luling Estates Drive. Kirch and Rafiel were trapped under the car until a group of about 13 neighborhood kids lifted the vehicle off of them.

All three were hospitalized.

Rafiel was unconscious for three days following the accident. He was admitted to University Hospital with a fractured skull, broken and fractured bones along his spine, a neck injury and bruised lungs, according to his mother, Crystal Rafiel.

Clay was sentenced to one month in jail, but her sentence was suspended. She was also placed on misdemeanor probation for one year.

She was ordered to pay restitution to Rafiel at the rate of $150 per month for 10 years. She began paying restitution in July. If her payments are made on time, she will pay a total of $18,000 to Rafiel. If not paid on schedule, the total would be $25,000, according to court documents.

She was also ordered to pay $250 to Dunmiles and to perform 120 hours of community service at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.

The accident came less than a month after Louisiana legislators passed roadway laws that banned all texting while driving.

Under the new law, no driver is allowed to text message while driving.

The law also says that drivers with a learner’s permit, or those who are 17 years old or younger, can’t operate a cell phone with their hands. That includes dialing a number, texting or using the device at all. The only way they can use a cell phone is with a hands-free device, such as a Bluetooth, that allows dialing by voice command.