Judge Gets Hit by DUI Driver He Let Off 11 Years Prior

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In 1998 Montgomery Judge, Edwin Collier sentenced Rene Fernandez to 60 days in jail for driving under the influence, but later suspended the sentence in its entirety. It has just been made to our attention that Fernandez has pled guilty for hitting Judge Collier, 11 years after the original sentence. How ironic is that?

During the late afternoon hours of August 21, 2009, Fernandez headed North on Woodfield Road at extremely high speeds, swerving and veering into oncoming traffic according to the report which was filed that same day. He then cut across the lanes and swiped the Dodge truck on the right side of his Chevy Tahoe. The drunk driver was out of control, and he again approached the oncoming traffic and nearly hit some women named, Janice Sibley, who was an eyewitness of the day’s events. A few seconds later, Fernandez smacked into Edwin Collier’s Honda Accord also carrying his wife, Ellen.

When Rene smacked into the car, the accident report stated that Sibley ran over to the Collier’s car and reached for Ellen Collier, she placed her hand on Collier’s shoulder and then told her that she would be alright while she fell in and out of consciousness. Collier’s eyes were calling for help and Sibley knew that she would need to get them to a hospital fast. The family was later taken to the nearest hospital where they would be treated for their injuries.

At the scene of the incident, Fernandez was arrested for having a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and has since then been sentenced by the Gaithersburg courthouse to serve18 months in the Montgomery county jail. Even though the prosecutors stated at the sentencing that Fernandez should only actually serve 13 to 15 months, he will also have to serve 3-year probation after serving his jail time. The maximum sentencing would have been a 3-year imprisonment. Do you believe this fair?

The couple is having a hard time recovering from the accident. The retired judge, who officially retired in 1993, but continued to take on cases without any pay has been extremely exhausted and confused. I wonder if he feels that he shouldn’t have spared Fernandez’s jail time 11 years ago because he is now having such a hard time with the recuperation. John Collier, the couple’s son spoke at the hearing about the tragedy that this incident has caused his parents. The car crash has caused so much trouble for his parents. Ellen, his 81 year old mother had almost died and refuses to spend her life the same as before. She will no longer take longs walks and is only able to walk when she has her cane.

Edwin Collier broke his leg in the car wreck and fractured his ribs. He is still recovering and would actually be working in the courthouse today if it wasn‘t for this horrific accident, John said at the court proceedings. At age 85 John’s father must use a cane aw well at all times and every step that he makes is extremely painful for him. Nothing seems to be the same, not even grocery shopping, Ellen remains in the car while Edwin shops for food. The Colliers use to enjoy their time together by riding bikes and spending time with their grandchildren, but that has now changed.

Fernandez accepted a deal, pleading guilty to one count of causing life threatening injury with a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Rene since then has remained sober, admitting that he is an alcoholic that needs help and is extremely sorry for what happened to the Colliers and prays that the Lord help the Colliers. He is in the process of getting the help that he truly needs and hopes that this thing never happens again. So, the moral of the story is next time you have the opportunity to sentence someone for driving under the influence more than once, make them pay and put them away.