Family of girl killed in alleged DWI wreck after 10th birthday party speaks out

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A heartbroken family reaches out to Eyewitness News to share their story after their loved one was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash in north Harris County.

Salvador Delao, 23, is charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of 9-year-old Jade Stephens.

Jade's family started Saturday morning with shopping and preparations for her 10th birthday party.

"We got her new shoes, a new outfit," said her dad Eric.

Following an afternoon of bowling, gifts and her favorite cupcakes, Jade and her family were on their way back home when investigators say Delao ran a stop sign, striking the driver's side of the family's car.

"My wife screamed at top of her lungs. It hit us so hard, it knocked all the windows out, the doors off, everything," said the girl's father.

He was pinned inside and waiting for first responders. Meantime, passersby called 911 and rushed to help. Jade's mother was able to crawl into the back seat with her two children.

"I'm a nurse. I know what death looks like when it's coming. I was just watching my baby slip away from me and there was nothing I could do," said LaKeitha Stephens. "I actually watched a tear roll down her eye as I was telling her to fight. Mommy's here with you, mommy's here with you."

Jade's 14-year-old brother, Mikhail Cox, was seated next to her. He came face-to-face with the suspect, who police say, was spotted tossing beer bottles from his truck after the crash.

"I looked at him and I said why? I was just screaming why? And I saw him throw (the bottles) out, and he had a smile on his face," said Cox.

With gifts and cupcakes still in her father's trunk, Jade was rushed to the hospital but never regained consciousness. Her family will celebrate her true 10th birthday on Wednesday without her.

"We got up Saturday morning and we never would've thought in a million years that we wouldn't be seeing our baby again," said Jade's father.

The Stephens family has set up a fundraising page for Jade Gabrielle Stephens on GoFunde.com.