Sandra Amaya and Sophia Lopez - victims of Impaired Driving in Virginia

Sandra and Sophia

Sandra Amaya, age 31, and her daughter, Sophia Lopez, age 12, died on September 25, 2013, on an Interstate Highway near Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Sandra was driving her 1994 Hyundai sedan and headed to Virginia Beach to visit her grandmother, who was in town from California.

Her vehicle crashed into a pickup truck which had crossed over a grassy median and slid sideways into the lane Sandra was driving in.

Neil Lyness, age 29, of Chesapeke, has been arrested and charged with reckless

Neil Lyness

driving, two counts of involuntary manslaughter as a result of driving under the influence and driving on a suspended or revoked license three or more times in 10 years.

Neil Lyness has a history of traffic violations and other run-ins with the law including theft from a food store, inhaling drugs, driving without a license and speeding. 

He lives off of Social Security and has been unemployed for five years.

Relatives stated that Sandra had an ability to find the good in people and that she was smiling, happy and outgoing. Sophia was inquisitive and was well loved by her mother and father. 

Saint Bernadette of
Lourdes, pray for
Sandra and Sophia

Sophia was a 6th grader at Norview Middle School. 

The community is shocked at this tragic occurrence.

Sandra and Sophia are survived by many loving friends and relatives including Sandra's mother, Laurel Adams; her sister, Ryleigh Adams; her grandmother, Sandy Zook; and her partner, Juan Lopez.

Look at the face of this woman and the face of this girl.  They are with us one moment and gone the next due to the actions of an impaired driver.

God save us from the drivers who are drunk or doped up or who speed like a bat out of hell. They are driving us to our graves. Amen. 

Pray that Sandra and Sophia are in heaven. Pray that they are at peace and are with God. Amen.