JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville mother said she's frustrated after the driver accused of hitting her two sons as they moved a disabled vehicle off a road is free on bond.
The accident happened on Blanding Boulevard and Collins Road in January when 17-year-old Frederick Horn and his 14-year-old brother Jason Newton were pushing their family's SUV off Blanding Boulevard when it ran out of gas.
That's when police say 54-year-old Christopher Breza hit them, pinning Frederick under one of the vehicles and throwing Jason into the road.
Breza was charged with driving under the influence, which police records show was his forth DUI violation.
A judge initially refused to grant Breza bond, but that's now changed and Tierra Newton, the boys' mother, is not happy.
Newton said it is difficult for her because even though it's been months since her sons were injured, it's still having a big impact on her and her family.
"They say that God gives second chances but y'all have given this guy a total of three, this is his fourth," Jason Newton said, referring to the decision to grant bond to Breza.
The accident left Jason Newton's legs mangled and caused Horn to have one leg amputated.
"It reminds me of me and my brother when we could go outside to play when we want to, do what we want to, (and) not have to worry about what our legs (are like) or by the expression (of) how kids would act to us," Jason Newton said.
In February, Breza pleaded not guilty to two counts of DUI resulting in serious injury and careless driving.
A judge initially refused to grant him bond but released him on $50,000 bond and ordered him to wear an ankle monitor that will continuously monitor his alcohol intake.
"They shouldn't have set a bond. They should have left him in jail. He didn't need a bond," Tierra Newton said.
Tierra Newton said what's hardest is knowing Breza is out walking around, something her sons now struggle to do.
"Here is a grown older man that is in his mid-50s and he has ruined the life of two young children that haven't had a chance to live," Tierra Newton said.
Breza was not at home when News4Jax went to the home to speak with him but he is set to be back in court in August.
In the meantime, Newton and her husband say they are just going to keep trying to take care of their sons and a GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family cover medical bills which can be found at http://www.gofundme.com/pu9yk4.