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DWI laws don’t apply only to alcohol

On Behalf of | Sep 8, 2022 | Drug Crimes |

Texas law deals strictly with drivers who are accused of causing an accident while they are intoxicated by alcohol, but the same law can also apply against people who are allegedly intoxicated by other drugs. A recent incident in Houston provides a useful example.

The incident

According to Houston police, a wrong-way driver on busy Westheimer Road may have been under the influence of drugs when he crashed his car into a restaurant near Highway 6. Surveillance video shows a Toyota Corolla speeding west in the eastbound lanes of Westheimer Road. Witnesses and the surveillance tapes showed the Toyota speeding westbound in the eastbound lane when the driver lost control. The car left the pavement, hit a dip, went airborne, clipped a sign and then crashed into the restaurant.

About a dozen individuals were dining in the restaurant at the time of the crash, but fortunately, the car struck the office portion of the structure. One person was injured by flying glass.

The owner of the restaurant told police that a person was sitting in a chair near the spot where the car hit the building. Had the man not moved seconds before the crash, he would most likely have been killed.

Charges

The driver was trapped inside his car, and the efforts of rescue workers were necessary to free him. He was taken to a nearby hospital, treated, and released.

Police said that the driver is suspected of driving while intoxicated, with either drugs or alcohol being the intoxicant. Investigators said that the suspect was already wanted on pending felony warrants.

Conclusion

The defendant in this case is facing several serious charges related to Texas’ driving laws. If he is convicted on any of the more serious charges, and if the pending warrants involve other driving violations, the man could face lengthy incarceration, a sizeable fine, and loss of his driving privileges for an extended period.

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