MESA, Arizona (AZAfamily) — Friends and family of 22-year-old Zoey Johnson and Rayme Barnes gathered outside Mesa Justice Court on Wednesday to express their sorrow and seek justice after last weekend’s events.

Johnson was killed and Barnes, 22, was seriously injured after the women were involved in a fatal highway crash in Mesa.

Barnes was driving home on U.S. 60 on Sunday. He ran out of gas and pulled over near Stapley Drive.

Johnson was called to help, and while both girls were working on the disabled vehicle, investigators say another car hit them.

“All they did was take care of a disabled vehicle, the person pulling heavy equipment who wasn’t supposed to be driving changed all of our lives forever,” said Robin Dayhoff, Barnes’ aunt. “He should have been in prison and never had the opportunity to do what he did.”

Nicholas Meyer, 45, is currently facing criminal charges in connection with the crash. However, Arizona’s Family learned that Meyer had a long history of driving with a suspended license.

Meyer also has dozens of other driving-related charges since 2014, including speeding, unsafe lane changes and even no insurance.

Meyer appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday, where he faces charges of causing death and causing serious injury while driving with a revoked license.

Both are first-class misdemeanors and are the most serious form of misdemeanors.

Victims’ families have expressed concern that Meyer only faces misdemeanor charges, but criminal defense attorney Robert McWhirter doesn’t think the situation will last much longer.

“It usually takes about a day for the district attorney to review the case and review the criminal history of the defendants,” McWhirter said. “I would be shocked if this case doesn’t end up as a felony in Superior Court, rather than city court, by the end of the week.”

Johnson and Barnes were great friends and spent a lot of time together, enjoying dirt biking, camping, and boating.

Barnes is still recovering at a Valley hospital. Meanwhile, the victims’ families want to know how Meyer got back behind the wheel.

“This was absolutely preventable,” Dayhoff said. “He has a long criminal history that includes many traffic violations. “We pray for justice for these girls. For Rayne and Zoey.”

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