Grand jury indicts man on intoxication manslaughter
TEXARKANA, Texas —Last week a Bowie County grand jury indicted a man accused of being drunk when he caused a major crash in Texarkana that resulted in serious injury and death.
Kendrick Aaron Sauls, 21, was allegedly speeding and driving erratically moments before he disregarded a red light at the intersection of Summerhill Road and New
Boston Road at about 8:30 p.m. May 1, according to a probable cause affidavit. Sauls’ gray 2008 Dodge Ram truck struck a blue 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, causing severe damage to and airbags to deploy in both vehicles.
At the time of the crash, Sauls was charged with two counts of intoxication assault. Since then, 36-year-old Mario Haynes has died of his injuries. The grand jury indicted Sauls for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.
When police approached Sauls at the accident scene, he was allegedly telling his passenger, “Just kill me.” Sauls allegedly had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. On the ground next to Sauls’ truck, which came to a stop in a grassy area off Summerhill Road, officers allegedly observed a bottle of Steel Reserve malt liquor.
The driver of the Santa Fe and her 5-monthold infant son were transported to CHRISTUS St. Michael hospital for treatment. The driver, 29, suffered a broken neck, a broken left wrist, a broken right hand, a broken collar bone, a fractured skull, a lacerated liver and broken ribs. The baby suffered minor scrapes and scratches from flying glass and debris.
Haynes suffered more serious injuries and was transported to University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital after initial treatment at Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana. Haynes suffered a severe brain bleed, facial fractures and a skull fracture.
Sauls was taken to a local hospital where a sample of his blood was drawn for testing. He is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $300,000.