DeKalb teen charged in fatal car crash
An DeKalb, Texas, teen has been charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault in connection with a single-car crash in Bowie County that left one dead and three injured.
Isidrio Mariana, Jr., 18, was allegedly under the influence when he drove his girlfriend’s car into a tree, after failing to stop at the intersection of Bowie County Road 4255 and U.S. Highway 259 near DeKalb at about 4 a.m., according to a probable cause affidavit penned by Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Paul Barrett. Candace Vernon, 18, the car’s owner, was riding in the front seat and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Austin Hooks, 18, of Simms, Texas, Kaylee Payne, 18, of DeKalb, and Payne’s 15-year-
old sister were injured in the accident and taken to area hospitals. Hooks was the only passenger wearing a seatbelt.
Barrett’s report notes that he and other officers could smell alcohol in the wrecked 2012 Honda sedan and an open can of Keystone Light beer was in the front center console. An ice chest holding 15 more cans of beer was also reportedly found in the car.
One of the passengers reportedly told Barrett they had been drinking while driving around the night before and morning of the fatal crash. The witness allegedly said another car was chasing them when Mariana blew through the intersection at about 80 miles per hour and struck a tree.
Mariana’s blood was drawn at the hospital. Testing performed at the crime lab showed a blood alcohol level of .086, just above the legal limit of .08. Mariana’s blood reportedly showed the presence of benzodiazepenes, a class of drugs typically prescribed to treat anxiety.
At a pre-indictment hearing Monday before 5th District Judge Bill Miller, Mariana told the court he has hired Texarkana lawyer Lawrence Orta. However, the docket did not reflect Orta’s involvement in the case, and it is possible he did not receive notice of the hearing. Miller told Mariana to be sure Orta appears at his next court date in July.
As of Monday, Mariana has been in the Bowie County jail for 30 days. Bail on the intoxicated manslaughter charge is set at $100,000, while bail on each of the intoxicated assault charges is set at $50,000 each for a total bail of $250,000.
Mariana’s case has not yet been presented to a Bowie County grand jury for indictment. llarowe@texarkanagazette.com