BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — A family's heartbreak lives on, months after their loved one was hit and killed by a driver.
Joel Eggers was a long-time member of the Firebird Raceway community, who worked there for 28 years, most recently as the chief starter.
Tyler Martinez, the 24-year-old who has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in this case, was in court Tuesday for a plea hearing. Police say he hit and killed Eggers back on April 8.,
Martinez's attorney asked the judge for a one week extension before a plea entry, but the judge denied the request, instead entering a not guilty plea on Martinez's behalf.
Eggers's family and friends sat together in the courtroom, wearing shirts that said "Justice for Joel Eggers." The group was emotional during the hearing, and family members tell KBOI 2News they are tired of proceedings continually getting pushed back.
"We had my dad's birthday, my parents' 44th anniversary, a 9th birthday, a graduation," said Joel's daughter, Jennifer Zavala. "Now we're going to be in court right before Thanksgiving, right before Christmas, and my dad's not going to be there for any of it."
"None of this is fair," said Joel's brother, Jason. "I don't understand why it's taking this long to take the trial to trial."
Martinez will go to trial on December 12, but will appear for a pre-trial hearing on November 29. Prosecutors expect the trial to take about two weeks.
ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmpaeTlrlwucCnZJqbk6rAprCMqJ1moJmpwaq6xmaioqScnruoecGooKydXaKur3nWoqOlZZekerW7jK2popmcYravecOemp6lkpq%2F