Wreck Victim, 16, dies

Mother blames trio's accident on drinking

One teen's parents described it as a night on the town, and evening of good times late into the evening at a bar in Deep Ellum.

The underage trio drank margaritas, shots of tequila and Long Island iced teas before getting into her son's car to return one of the two female passengers to Arlington, Tana Robison, the driver's mother, said Monday.

"I knew where they were going, and I tried to talk them out of it," she said.

On Sunday, 16-year-old Melissa Jenkins died after succumbing to injuries she sustained during the Sept, 23 car crash in Forth Worth.

The 18-year-old driver, Jason Robison of Arlington, died instantly at the scene. The third passenger, 17 year old Arlington High student Danielle Reisinger, sustained minor injuries.

A sleeping Melissa, an Arlington High junior, suffered severe trauma to her head and abdomen after being ejected from her boyfriend's car, police said.

Mr. Robison's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit at .168, Tarrant County Medical Examiner Dr. Nizam Peerwani said Monday.

"That means he was intoxicated while driving," Dr. Peerwani said.

Fort Worth Police Department spokesman Lt. David Burgess also said alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident.

"Somebody that young... and inexperienced driver and an inexperienced drinker magnify the situation, he said, referring to Mr. Robison, who allegedly ran his vehicle off the highway near Interstate 35W in North Fort Worth.

Melissa died Sunday evening in John Peter Smith Hospital's Intensive Care Unit surrounded by family and nearly 30 friends, said her father Len Stahly of Irving.

"What can a father say about a daughter that was very pretty and vibrant," he said. "She didn't have an opportunity to experience life yet."

Police said the wreck occurred after Mr. Robison missed an exit ramp on I-35W onto Interstate 820.

Mrs. Robison has accused a bartender who owns an establishment in Dallas' Deep Ellum of serving the minors alcohol from about 9:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on the night of the accident.

Mr. Robison drank margaritas, Melissa shots of tequila and Daniell Long Island iced teas, Mrs. Robison said.

The bartender who knew Danielle, let the minors in the club and served them alcohol, Mrs. Robison said.

Cynthia Reisinger, Danielle's mother declined comment Monday.

"He has served other underage kids before," said Mrs. Robison, adding she has hired an attorney and plans to file a lawsuit against the bartender. "My son had been killed as a result of it."

"I was livid. He was a 40-year-old man with a liquor license. No telling how many kids he's done this to."

Mrs. Robison said her son, an Arlington High graduate, had a band scholarship to attend Texas Tech University next year.

"He was an honor student and a trumpet player," she said. "He had a God-given talent for it."

"He taught himself how to play the baritone so it would be easier to get a scholarship."

The bar's owner, who has not been charged, could not be reached for comment by Monday night.

Fort Worth police are investigating where the minors purchase the alcohol, Lt. Burgess said.

He declined Monday to comment on Mrs. Robison's allegations, citing the department's on going investigation.

"We can't single anyone out until we have all the facts, " he said.

Mr. Stahly said Mrs. Robison contacted him and told him her son had been drinking. Marijuana also may have played a role, Mr. Stahly said Mrs. Robison told him.

Mr. Stahly called his daughter a good girl.

"She called me daddy," he said. "I have four other kids by my ex-wife, and she was the only one who always called me daddy."

Doctors removed Melissa from her life support after they determined her brain was not receiving oxygen.

"I was there when they turned the machine off and watched as her heartbeat went down to zero," Mr. Stahly said. "A couple of more horrible days to go, and it will be time to heal."

Mr. Stahly lauded the intensive care unit's doctors and nurses for their care of his daughter during her nine-day stay.

"The doctors and nurses and everybody there were just angels," he said. "One nurse only worked on the weekends, but she came back on Monday just to be with Melissa."

Funeral services for Melissa will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Burial will be at Johnson Station Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Arlington Funeral Home.

A scholarship fund has been set up in her name at Arlington High School.

Melissa, formerly of Duncanville, had lived in Arlington since February.

In addition to her father, she is survived by her mother, Sharron Hester, two brothers Bill and Lee Stahly of Austin; and four sisters, Christina Hester of Arlington, Candace Cole of Dallas and Laura and Patti Stahly of Austin.

Other relatives inclued her grandparents, and aunt and an uncle.