Driving Under Influence is serious problem in Maverick County, claiming 7 Deaths
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
Five years ago on October 17, 2010, Eagle Passan Karla Marie Viesca,age 24 years old, died in an automobile crash at the hands of a drunk driver in San Antonio Texas.
Viesca’s life was taken at a very young age in San Antonio at the hands of Robert Stinziano who was charged with intoxication manslaughter and assault. Stinziano plead guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the crime and tragic death of Karla Marie Viesca.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI) and causing an accident is a very serious criminal offense that can put you behind bars and cause serious or fatal injuries to either you or other people involved in an DUI related accident. Maverick County is no exception as there have been seven deaths related to DUI auto crashes during the past 10 years from 2005-2014.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal did a review of the Texas Department of Transportation Crash (CR3) reports of Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas, showing a significant problem with drunk driving and related accidents in the community.
In a span of 10 years from 2005 to 2014, there have been 400 DUI related accidents, 197 injuries and 7 deaths between Maverick County and Eagle Pass according to information from the Texas Department of Transportation Crash (CR3) reports.
Maverick County has had 240 DUI related Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA’s) with 124 injuries and 6 fatalities. Eagle Pass has had 160 DUI (MVA’s) with 73 injuries and 1 death. Combined there are 400 DUI related motor vehicle accidents, 197 injuries, and 7 fatalities.
Maverick County reported to TXDOT a total of 40 Driving Under the Influence related vehicle accidents resulting in 1 fatality and 12 injuries in 2014, representing 4.7 % of the 844 total motor vehicle accidents reported for 2014 by Maverick County to TXDOT.
The City of Eagle Pass reported 38 DUI related motor vehicle accidents with 1 death and 12 injuries in 2014 representing 4.8% of the 789 motor vehicle accidents reported in 2014.
In 2013, Maverick County reported 39 DUI involved auto crashes resulting in 1 death and 10 injuries. Eagle Pass reported 36 DUI related auto crashes with 8 injuries and no deaths.
During 2012, Maverick County had 39 DUI related motor vehicle accidents (MVA) with 22 injuries and no deaths reported while Eagle Pass had 22 MVA’s with 12 injuries and no fatalities.
In 2011, there were 29 DUI related MVA’s with 20 injuries and no fatalities reported by Maverick County while Eagle Pass had 22 DUI MVA’s with 16 injuries and no fatalities.
During 2010, there were 25 DUI related MVA’s reported by Maverick County with 12 injuries and no fatalities while Eagle Pass reported 13 DUI related MVA’s with 8 injuries and no fatalities.
In 2009, Maverick County reported 13 DUI MVA’s resulting in one death and 6 injuries and Eagle Pass reported 11 DUI MVA’s with 5 injuries and no fatalities.
During 2008, Maverick County reported 11 DUI MVA’s with 2 fatalities and 10 injuries while Eagle Pass had 5 DUI MVA’s with 5 injuries and no fatalities.
In 2007, Maverick County had 10 DUI MVA’s with 1 fatality and 2 serious injuries and Eagle Pass reported 6 DUI related MVA’s with no injuries or fatalities.
During 2006, Maverick County had 22 DUI related MVA’s with 1 fatality and 22 injuries while Eagle Pass reported 6 DUI MVA’s with 6 injuries and no fatalities.
In 2005, Maverick County reported 12 DUI related accidents with 8 injuries and no fatalities while Eagle Pass had no public information available for during this year.
According to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department arrests logs during the past 21 months, there have been 74 individuals arrested for Driving While Under the Influence in the and 362 arrests for Public Intoxication.
The Eagle Pass Police Department monthly reports for 2015 show that from January to September 2015 there have been 71 individuals arrested for Driving While Under the Influence and 142 arrests for Public Intoxication.
One individual was arrested twice by the Maverick County Sheriff Department on Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charges and once for Public Intoxication in the past 21 months. The individual was detained on August 15, 2015 and on June 20, 2014. This individual was also arrested for public intoxication on January 24, 2015.
A check of this individual’s criminal record and any pending cases against him show that he has no cases through the Maverick County Court for charges of DWI on the 2 incidents reported in the past 21 months.
Records do show that this individual has had another DWI charge from March 3, 2003 that is listed as disposed. This person has had 3 charges for assault cause bodily harm charges in 2008 and 2012 and one charge for possession of Marijuana (2005) under 2 ounces and possession of a controlled substance in 2013, all of them have been disposed but records show that the individual was not sentenced to jail time at all.
The Maverick County Sheriff’s Department arrest logs show at least 8 other individuals who have been detained multiple times for charges of DWI, Public Intoxication and drug charges as well.
Currently, there is 179 court cases filed and pending for DWI charges through the Maverick County Court during the past year. These cases are combined from both Maverick County Sheriff’s Department and Eagle Pass Police Department arrests and referrals to the Maverick County Attorney’s Office.
Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber and Eagle Pass Police Chief Alberto Guajardo urge the community to be safe and responsible when dealing with alcohol consumption and to get a designated driver to drive one home if they have been drinking.
Excessive alcohol use, including binge drinking and underage alcohol usage, costs Texas $19 Billion annually in medical care, lost productivity, and other alcohol-related costs. It is reported that it kills 6,514 Texans each year, including 372 persons under the age of 21.
If you are going to drink, please don’t drive. If you have a problem with alcoholism or know someone who needs help, please call Alcoholics Anonymous at (830) 773-5122 or visit them at 648 Madison Street in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Don’t Drink and Drive. Remember, Buzz driving is Drunk driving. You will get stopped, arrested, charged, and maybe do some jail time. Save an innocent life today, don’t drink and drive.