BEAUMONT, Texas — A family is devastated after an accused drunk driver took the life of a mother in the parking lot of a Beaumont motel.
LaQuanta Pikes' three children witnessed the tragic crash that took her life. They say she always put their needs above her own and her final actions saved their lives.
"She told me one time she'd rather us eat than her," said 14-year-old Machai Forest, her son.
Forest shared precious memories of his mother with 12News.
"She was always cool, even though we were in a hotel, she still made sure we get to go to places sometimes, even if we had to walk," he said.
Originally from New Orleans, Pikes was in Beaumont with her three kids, trying to get back on her feet. Unfortunately, her life was cut short on June 19.
The family was getting out of their car in the parking lot of a Beaumont motel when a car began to reverse towards them.
"I heard like a skrrt sound so I turned around. He was all the way in the street backwards blocking the traffic. And then he came back, reversed, hit the gas really hard," Forest said.
During the last moments of her life, Pikes pushed her young daughter out the way.
"She threw her into the middle of the street when the car was coming towards her," said Forest.
But sadly, Pikes couldn't get herself out of the way in time. She was pinned in-between two cars. Pikes died two days later at St. Elizabeth Hospital.
"My grandson had to pull his mother from out, from between the cars, because the car, the man was trying to get away," said Pikes' mother, Anita Pikes. "No mother wants to bury their own child, before they go."
Now Anita, is raising her grandkids who are 14, 7 and 4-years-old.
"I'm trying to relocate, find a stable home for them, get them therapy and keep them and they're spirits up to let them know [their] mama always love them," Anita told 12News.
The family started a GoFundMe to help pay for their care, therapy and to help take care of Pikes' remains.
"We're asking for help please, to transfer my daughter body back home because my grandson wants her to be buried at home," Anita said.
Beaumont Police arrested Ronnie Linder for intoxication assault at the time, but say he will face additional charges because Pikes died.
"The suspect that evening was arrested for intoxication assault at the time, so he was intoxicated. Of course, because she has passed away there are additional charges pending for intoxication manslaughter," said Haley Morrow with the Beaumont Police Department.
Linder has posted the $20,000 bond and was released from the Jefferson County Jail. He is charged with two counts of intoxication assault.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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