I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your signatures and support for this important matter!

KETV did a wonderful job covering the Vigil in Memory of Regina Bright that was held on 03/12/2023 and we are SO grateful for them for sharing this moment with us. The photo for this update is from that story. 

You can see the story done by KETV here.

We spoke of our love for Gina as well as the importance getting the legislation changed to reflect the seriousness of a reckless driving offense that causes the death of another person. This crime needs to be charged as a felony, regardless if the offending driver is sober or intoxicated at the time of the incident.

I have been requested to share the speech that I gave at the Vigil and wanted to share it here with you all here as part of this update. 

Please continue to share this petition to help us continue to raise awareness and support. This is essential for when we speak with Senators asking for their support and for them to take up our cause to get the laws changed! 

Together as a community we can make a positive change from this tragic and horrific incident.

Speech given on 03/12/2023 for Gina’s Vigil:

Last year at about this time I was sitting next to Gina and sharing laughter with her as we got pedicures done with our friends for her birthday. It was a great day; she was so happy. She had a wonderful birthday week filled with friends and family.

Less than 12 hours after we had our nails done, she was gone from this world.

Stolen away by the careless actions of a rage filled reckless and speeding driver who had NO regard for her life, let alone his own.

Gina was truly one of my dearest friends. She was a kind and beautiful person who radiated peace, calm and love to everyone she encountered. She had a brilliant, beautiful smile that illuminated not only the room but everyone she encountered. Gina’s genuine and gentle spirit was unique in this world. She was unflappable. I often referred to her as the calm voice in my head, she had a way of exuding peace and enhancing calm to every situation and person.

 I’ve never met anyone like Gina, and I likely never will. She was an amazing mom, her kids never wanted for anything, somehow, she would always make things work, no matter the circumstance. She was unfailingly dedicated to her family and friends, always there for them, the glue that held so many of us together.

Another person’s momentary conscious decision to speed down this street extinguished her beautiful, shining irreplaceable bright light from the world.

From her loved ones. 

One moment of selfish rage stole a mother, a beloved family member and friend from all of us.

One moment of Jonathan McDougald making the conscious and clear minded decision to drive recklessly the night of March 12th, 2022 destroyed a magnificent person and life with him only facing minor consequences for his actions.

Because he was SOBER the night his actions killed Gina, he only faced a misdemeanor charge that carried a maximum penalty of ONE year in jail and/or $1000.00 fine.

The prosecution said that it would not be charged as a felony, despite his conscious decision to speed and drive at an excessive rate of speed as well as his own admittance to it being “All his fault” the night of Gina's death.

As a community we rallied, we had our voices heard this past year to plead with the prosecution to up the charge to a felony for Gina’s life being taken and ended prematurely. But Don Kline and his office refused, saying that because he was sober it would not be charged as a felony despite what the community thought about that, despite that the community disagreed with that minor charge for this heinous crime.

No one should have to fight for justice while trying to grieve and wrap their head around such a tremendous and incomprehensible loss.

By not charging Jonathan McDougald with a felony charge for his reckless driving while sober and taking Gina’s life it sets a deadly precedent to all the other people who commit the same actions on Nebraska roads EVERY DAY.

Speeding, reckless and distracted driving are a rampant epidemic not only in Omaha but statewide.

In 2022 alone, traffic fatalities were at a 15 year high with a 30% increase to deaths on the road. 

An article in the Omaha World Herald published on January 3rd, 2023,states: “The 254 deaths on Nebraska roads in 2022 were 33 more than what was recorded in 2021. The toll also is the most fatalities since the state recorded 256 traffic deaths in 2007.”

Furthermore, many of the established laws regarding reckless driving haven’t been reviewed since the 1990’s, and one of them hasn’t been revised since 1954!

How we treat motor vehicle homicide needs to be reviewed and amended to reflect behavior of our communities as far as distracted, reckless and rage driving as well as the technology and capabilities of modern automobiles on the road.

By not charging motor vehicle homicide as a felony when the offending driver is sober it sends a message that you can do these actions and get away with essentially a slap on the wrist.

Gina had just turned 35 years old mere days before she was killed.

She was so young, had so much more life to live and love to share. Gina deserved to live a long and wonderful life with her children, her family and all of those who loved her.

She was truly light, and love and this world is a darker place without her in it.

Those who are remembered, live. 

And Gina will live on through us. In our hearts and minds.

Now and always.

Say her name! 3x