HOLLAND, Mich. -- A family in Ottawa County is reacting to the misdemeanor charge against the driver who hit and killed 15-year-old Jonathan Bracamontes, then continued driving to work.
Bracamontes died in September while crossing U.S 31 at Riley Street in Holland Township. Witnesses said that he ran into the street when oncoming traffic had the right of way.
The woman who hit him is being charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident.
The family said that they were hopeful that the driver would face up to five years behind bars for a felony charge of leaving the scene of the accident.
Bracamontes' mother said that since her son's death, her family is still struggling to get things back to normal.
Bracamontes was struck by a vehicle driven by Ruth Borgman. Police said Borgman didn't stop after hitting the teen, and instead continued driving to work, where she eventually called 9-1-1.
Borgman told dispatchers that she hit something on her way in, but didn't know what.
Christian Bracamontes said that he looked up to his younger brother Jonathan, and said that he shouldn't have had to die alone.
"I wish she would have gotten out of the car and, you know, if my brother was still alive, you know, be there in his last moments. You know, hold his hand," said Bracamontes.
The family's attorney Nichole Jongsma Derks said that a single misdemeanor charge for failing to stop is not enough.
The Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office said that it decided to not charge Borgman for the teen's death or a more severe felony charge for hit and run because it said that Borgman's visibility was limited and Jonathan was walking against a red light.
