Dad Forgives Driver Who Killed Wife, Daughter
July 30 -- For years, Bruce Murakami sought justice from the young speeding driver whom he held responsible for the deaths of his wife and daughter in a 1998 car crash.
He left his job, hired a lawyer and funded his own investigation, even bringing in accident reconstruction experts to explain exactly what happened. Murakami contended all the while that driver Justin Cabezas, who was 19 at the time of the accident, deserved to go to prison.
"I will follow this through … that's my mission … to make sure justice is brought forth," Murakami said after the crash.
But in a Florida courtroom last week, as Cabezas pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, Murakami was near tears. He said he forgave Cabezas, and asked a judge not to send him to prison.
"He's a young man," said Murakami, 53. "I forgive him."
If something positive could come of the deaths of his loved ones, they would not be in vain, he said.
Cabezas, who faced up to 30 years in prison, was sentenced to two years of probation, and 300 hours of community service. That service will include spending time with Murakami, educating people together on the dangers of reckless driving.
His Two Lovely Girls
Bruce Murakami used to call his wife and daughter his "two lovely girls." His 11-year-old daughter, Chelsea, loved to read and had nicknames including Tofu, Munchkin and Little Buddy. His wife of 20 years, Cindy, spent as much time volunteering at a local hospital as she did working, counseling at-risk children and teaching parenting classes.
The accident happened on Nov. 16, 1998, when Cindy and Chelsea, were pulling out of a shopping center in the family's minivan.
They ended up the path of a car that was speed racing, near 90 miles per hour. Cabezas, behind the wheel of a rented Dodge Intrepid, struck the minivan, which in turn hit another car and exploded.
A few blocks away, Bruce Murakami was leaving for work when he saw black smoke in the sky. He followed it and saw the tangle of steel and glass, with his wife and daughter trapped inside.
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