JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother and stepfather of a 12-year-old boy who was hit and killed while walking to school in March were in court Tuesday morning when bond was set for the woman accused of being behind the wheel while drunk and on drugs.
Kelley Permenter, 37, is charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI property damage and leaving the scene of an accident. Her bond was set at $60,009 for the three charges. She bonded out of jail Tuesday afternoon.
After the hearing, Hunter Cope's parents talked about their loss and the road to getting some closure after Permenter turned herself in on the charges Monday.
“I'm glad that they actually did finally get her. We've been waiting a long time to see charges put on someone,” Hunter's stepdad, Matthew Valentine, said. “I'm glad that some justice is going to be served eventually when they get through going through court proceedings.”
The charge of leaving the scene of an accident is actually from a separate crash that happened moments before Hunter Cope was hit on March 6, police said.
The attorneys for Hunter's parents said video obtained by News4Jax show’s Permenter’s SUV hitting another SUV at a drive-thru window of a restaurant not far from the scene where Hunter was killed.
Moments later, the Mayport Middle School student was hit at the intersection of Wonderwood Connector and A1A while walking to school with five other children. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Permenter's SUV continued through a yellow light at the intersection about 8:30 a.m., hitting Hunter.
The arrest report said Permenter, who stayed at the scene of that crash, had used alcohol and cocaine.
“It's emotional and just upsetting to see that somebody would even do these things. If she would have just stopped after she hit the first car, then none of this would have happened,” Valentine said. “It's just a really sad thing that could have been avoided. … It just breaks my heart and makes me super sad and emotional.”
News4Jax found that Permenter, who will be in court again June 7, has nine citations in Duval County on her driving record -- four for speeding, one each for running a stop sign, disregarding a traffic signal, careless driving, no proof of insurance and loud noises coming from her vehicle.
“I don't think she should be able to drive. Somebody that's messed up that many times driving a car doesn't need to be driving a car,” Valentine said. “It's really horrible. It seems like people get away with everything these days.”
Hunter's mother, Crystal Clark, said her son was a very giving child with a special sense of humor. She said her family has had to move because passing the crash site every day was just too painful.
A memorial has been set up at the intersection where Hunter was hit, along with a sign reminding drivers to slow down.
“He was just the most caring kid you ever saw, just always trying to help people and care for people,” Valentine said. “He just was a good kid. He didn't deserve this.”
Hunter's family continues to push for changes at the intersection, including adding a crossing guard, to make it safer for the children who walk and bike to school. For more information or to sign the family's petition, visit Change.org.