Family of Woman Killed in Crash Offers Forgiveness to Driver
Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian faith but when someone practices forgiveness, it makes headline news.
According to KTLA, Asherey Ryan, 23, “who was six months pregnant, her 11-month-old son Alonzo, and her fiancé, Reynold Lester, were on their way to a prenatal checkup when the driver of a speeding Mercedes-Benz slammed into crossing traffic at the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues in Windsor Hills Thursday afternoon. Everyone in Ryan’s vehicle died, including her unborn son.”
Nicole Linton, a thirty-seven-year-old traveling nurse from Texas working in Los Angeles, was driving the Mercedes. The California Highway Patrol arrested her on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.
Linton was originally held in jail in lieu of a $9 million bail but that was reduced on Sunday to $2 million. She was expected to appear in court to face formal charges on Monday.
According to FOX 11, “Investigators believe the suspect, who was driving a Mercedes-Benz, was traveling over 100 mph going southbound on S. La Brea Avenue when she ran a red light and caused the crash. According to the CHP, the speed limit at that intersection is 35 miles per hour.”
An additional report from KTLA noted that the driver is being treated for “undisclosed injuries” and that an additional eight victims were injured in the crash.
While many gathered at the crash site called for justice and for changes in speeding limits and other safety measures, Ryan’s family delivered a message of forgiveness to the driver responsible for Ryan’s death.
“I just want to tell her that we forgive her,” Ryan’s younger sister said. “She will have to live with this for the rest of her life. That’s why she was spared. We understand it already.”
It is not inconsistent with the gospel to support the cause of legal justice and hold people accountable for their choices while also offering forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn’t say that what has happened doesn’t matter, it says that we’re leaving the judgement of the matter in God’s hands, freeing ourselves to move forward in faith that God is perfect, loving, and just.
Forgiveness brings healing and light into circumstances that are often the darkest many of us will face.
Forgiveness is almost always sacrificial and can be hard to do but unforgiveness often causes greater damage that can impact the living for years to come.
For an in-depth discussion of what forgiveness can look like in practice, tune into this episode of Women of Faith with Alita Reynolds on Liftable.tv as Gari Meacham discusses her journey of forgiveness.
Today, we have the real-time example of this family willing to offer forgiveness on one of their darkest days. The light of their message is making news around the world.
