Garland Police say a suspected drunk driver caused a crash that killed two bystanders Sunday morning. They responded to the crash on Highway 66 between Dexham Rd. and E. Centerville Rd. at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police say the driver of an SUV rear-ended another car headed west. They say the other car hit a barrier, flipped over, and landed in a ditch, where it caught fire.
Both people in the other car died at the scene.
"The vehicle was fully engulfed, and there was no way for them to get to the vehicle to assist them," says Garland Police Officer Felicia Jones. "It's very horrible, very horrific."
The driver of the SUV, Gustavo Huerta, 30, stayed at the scene. He was arrested and charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter.
"If you know you're going to be out drinking, give someone your keys, use ride-share options. Know your limits," Jones says.
Statewide, the Department of Public Safety says troopers made 402 DWI arrests over Labor Day weekend last year. DPS has additional troopers working through Monday.
“DPS is reminding all drivers that safety always comes first,” DPS Director Steven McCraw wrote in a statement. “While long weekends are a time to get out and enjoy, we all need to do our part to keep roads safe, and that is why Troopers will be out ensuring everyone is following the traffic laws.”
In addition to 402 DWI arrests over Labor Day weekend last year, DPS troopers issued 9,239 speeding tickets, 1,088 tickets for seat belt and child safety restraint violations, 1,419 citations for no insurance and 534 warnings and tickets for violations of the "Move Over, Slow Down" law. That law requires people to either move one lane over or slow to 20 miles an hour less than the speed limit when an emergency or maintenance vehicle is stopped on the shoulder.
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