As a man accused of a hit-and-run crash that killed one of two women in Riverside County appeared in front of a judge Wednesday, the surviving victim was still coping with the loss of her beloved friend.
With stitches on her forehead and pins in her wrist, Vickie Rood said the physical pain she has endured does not compare to the pain of losing 36-year-old Jennifer Campbell.
Rood believes the potential punishment won't be enough.
"There's nothing he could ever do that would ever replace Jennifer - nothing," said Rood.
Campbell's family members were in the courtroom as 43-year-old Felipe Gonzalez was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter and fatal hit-and-run. He was being held on $2 million bail.
Authorities believe it was Gonzalez behind the wheel of the black Ford Mustang that struck Campbell and Rood. The two women were walking near Highway 74 in Homeland on the night of April 29.
Cellphone video showed the Mustang being taken from Gonzalez's home. He lived on the same street as Campbell, about seven houses down. Despite the proximity, the family said they did not recognize him.
"They tried to cover it with a blanket, but you could tell it was all ugly," said witness Nuvia Osuna.
Authorities say Gonzalez tried to flee to Mexico, but turned himself in at the border.
A prosecutor told Campbell's family that if convicted Gonzalez would likely serve about five to six years in prison.
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"You took my mother, you took a wife, you took a friend, you took a cousin, you took everyone to us," said Campbell's 10-year-old son, Anthony Campbell.
