A weekend celebration for a Texas priest turned deadly on June 8 when the man’s younger brother was killed in a car accident. Authorities say that the 62-year-old decedent was taking pictures near a tourist shop when he was struck by a pickup truck. That car accident occurred when the truck plowed onto the sidewalk and then continued onto the nearby beach. One other pedestrian was also injured in the incident. The victim was in town for his older brother’s 79th birthday.
The decedent died at the scene of the crash. Another individual, age 48, was taken to a nearby emergency room, where he received treatment for serious injuries. Those two victims were not acquainted, but simply happened to be standing near each other at the time of he wreck. This incident is nothing new for Galveston residents; in the past three years, two people have died and 10 have been injured when vehicles have plunged over the Seawall or smashed into pedestrians in the area.
The driver, a 49-year-old man, is facing criminal charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault. This is not the first time that the man has been in trouble with the law; in fact, he was on probation at the time of the accident because of a narcotics violation. Authorities say they are still investigating whether the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the fatal car accident.
This family celebration was ruined because of a fatal accident that shook the community. The driver in this case should be held responsible in criminal court, but he could also face civil retribution for his role in the crash. Family members should not have to suffer through the loss of a loved one because of a negligent driver. They deserve financial compensation for such a tragedy.
Source: Houston Chronicle, “1 dead, 1 injured when truck plows over Galveston Seawall Jayme Fraser” Jayme Fraser, Jun. 08, 2014