Man runs over friend, bouncers in drunk driving accident

An intoxicated driver in Plano, Texas, reportedly intentionally struck several pedestrians with his car as bouncers attempted to prevent him from getting behind the wheel. The drunk driving accident left several people injured, and one of the defendant’s friends was actually killed in the April 17 accident. Now, the defendant is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, in addition to a murder charge. He could face life in prison if he is convicted on the charges.

Authorities say that the 22-year-old defendant was able to get into the driver’s seat of his car, even though bouncers attempted to prevent him from getting into his vehicle. He then sped away from The Hangout, located on North Central Expressway in Plano. However, instead of simply driving away, he returned a few minutes later and ran into a crowd of bar employees. The defendant’s friend, age 23, was also standing with that group of people.

Investigators say that three employees were injured in the pedestrian accident. Two suffered only minor injuries that were treated at the scene, while the other was hospitalized with serious injuries. That person has already been released. The defendant’s friend was not so lucky, however; he suffered such serious injuries from blunt force trauma that he died on April 20.

The defendant has already admitted that he does not remember driving into a crowd of people. Such irresponsible drivers should not only be prevented from getting behind the wheel of a car, but they should also be punished in civil and criminal court. Texas families should not have to mourn the loss of a loved one simply because of a drunk driver’s poor decision-making.

Source: The Dallas Morning News, “Update: Bouncers tried to stop suspected drunken driver in Plano before he ran them over” Valerie Wigglesworth, Apr. 29, 2014