The organ donation process has been completed for the young woman whose family was fighting against it.
According to family members of 26-year-old Martha Perez, her organs were removed on Friday against their wishes.
Fox 4 spoke to the family before the removal and they said the third woman confirmed dead of injuries sustained in an Arlington wreck involving a suspected drunk driver was technically still alive.
The Tarrant County medical examiner says Perez died Wednesday and doctors have declared Perez brain-dead, although the hospital declined to confirm that citing patient privacy.
?But she still has heart and lung functions,? said family member Juan Martinez. ?They took her off the life support and she was still breathing.?
Perez was a registered organ donor and doctors told the family they were prepared to harvest the organs for donations.
Perez did not have a will or an advance directive that would have instructed doctors exactly what to do in regards to taking her off of life support.
According to Martinez, the family felt it was too soon.
?We don't want to be pressured. My family feels pressured and it's just hard for someone to make that kind of decision when this just happened,? Martinez said Friday before her organs were removed.
Legal expert Jessice Dunne said the family has the legal right to keep Perez on life support if her organs are still functioning. If they stop, then it's up to the hospital what to do.
?We know we have to come to a decision but we aren't going to let no hospital or no state make that decision for us,? Martinez said. That wasn't the case as the hospital decided to move forward in the process.
The family is currently seeking legal advice while mourning their loss.
Twenty-six-year-old Alejandra Alvarado was pronounced dead at the scene of the Sunday wreck while 19-year-old Alexandra Rodriguez died about two hours later.
Police have said a male passenger had non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say witnesses told officers that 38-year-old Eldrick Westbrook of Arlington ran a red light before hitting the vehicle carrying the four people. He remained in Tarrant County jail Thursday on two counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault. Bail was set at $120,000. Jail records don't list an attorney.
Police spokeswoman Tiara Richard says it's possible with Perez's death that the assault case would be upgraded.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/273950...familys-wishes