Minutes after being released from jail man is killed by alleged drunk driver

In the Upper Valley, a family’s home is decorated for the Christmas holiday and on a special place above the fireplace mantel, three stockings hang, one for each member of the Zambrano family.

Jaime Zambrano shared a home with his older sister and their father.Even though Jaime wasn’t expected to be home for Christmas,his stocking was strung up, with his name in silver glitter on it.

Dolores Zambrano said she always looked forward to hearing her brother’s laugh, especially, during the holiday.

“Jamie was a very gregarious person. He had a very loud laugh that we’re all going miss,” said Dolores.

Dolores didn’t know it, but it appeared Jaime was going to not only make it home in time for Christmas, he was going to be a few days early and surprise the family.

Within five minutes, that all changed.

Jaime was released from theEast Montana Jail Annex at 12:30 a.m. Monday after being incarcerated since August.

Less than five minutes later he was hit by an alleged drunk driver and would later die, police said.

According to police, at about 12:34 a.m. 34-year old Justin Marks drove a 2002 Buick Park Avenue with 33-year-old Jaime as his front right seat passenger in the 12400 block of Montana.

Marks had just pulled out of a private parking lot onto westbound Montana. At the same time 27-year-old Jeffery Henigan drove a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro westbound on Montana

Police said Henigan’s Camaro struck the Buick from behind at a high rate of speed and that he was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the collision.

Both occupants of the Buick, Marks and Jaime, were transported to area hospitals where Jaime died from his injuries. Marks suffered only minor injuries.

Dolores said she got a call from Marks between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.

“I was very surprised just to hear that (Jaime) was out early, and then to hear that he was in an accident,and then later to know that he was gone,” said Dolores.

Dolores said Jaime had, “a little history of trouble,” but was headed towards a fresh start. According to Dolores, he was in the process of getting his commercial driver’s license and wanted to pursue a career as a truck driver upon his release.

Jail records show Jaime was incarcerated on August 22, 2012 for possession of a controlled substance. His 180-day-sentence would have kept Jaime behind bars until February 2013.

“We had no idea he was going to come home early. He didn’t call us,” said Dolores. “I think that he was going to surprise us for Christmas and, well, I guess he just didn’t quite make it.”

Henigan was arrested on one count of Intoxicated Manslaughter. During a subsequent inventory of Henigan’s vehicle, investigators located a handgun and have added an additional charge of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon. Henigan, a Fort Bliss soldier, was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a total bond of $51,500.

“I don’t know what will happen to (Henigan),” said Dolores. “I’m just very sad to know not only my family, but he and his family will never be the same again.”