The man facing charges has a history of numerous traffic violations. Now, the victim's family is wondering why he was allowed behind the wheel.
The license for Michael Temores had been suspended at least seven times in the past eight years. Fred Skafgaard was killed on December 30 in Munster, Indiana.
Temores has a valid driver's license, according to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. At 24, the bureau also has multiple traffic violations for Temores, but the most serious incident on his pending record involves the death of a south suburban grandfather just before the New Year.
The Friday before New Years, Skafgaard went out to get milk and bread at a nearby convenience store. He had gotten off his late night shift as a truck driver. At the same time, Temores drove through the same Munster intersection. Sixty-one-year-old Skafgaard was hit on the driver's side. He did not survive. He leaves a wife, two children and grandchildren.
"She's so broken up by this, she's having a very difficult time dealing with it," said Kevin O'Brien, attorney for the Skafgaard family. "The two children are angrier by the day when things come out as they have in the past several weeks, more and more about this guy's background."
O'Brien says there are reports that Temores was at a lounge prior to the accident.
Then there is Temores' driving record in Indiana: Going back to 2003 Temores has 31 traffic convictions. His license was suspended seven times. He was twice arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated -- one time he pleaded guilty and the other was resolved in a plea agreement for reckless driving.
Temores, 24, is now facing more charges including operating while intoxicated causing the death of another person.
"He shouldn't have been driving," O'Brien said. "There's no question about the fact that with the number of offenses he had his license should have been suspended."
Attempts to contact Tremores by phone were successful, but he ended the call without commenting on the case. His attorney is out the country and was not reachable Wednesday afternoon.
Temores is due back in court March 7.
