Griceldo Garcia Killed, Claudia Luna Villantes, Irma Roldan De Garcia, Children Injured in Car Accident in Nacogdoches, TX
UPDATE (February 24, 2023): Recent information from officials identifies Irma Roldan De Garcia as one of the people injured in the crash. Additional details are still pending investigations.
Nacogdoches, TX -- February 15, 2023, Griceldo Garcia was killed and Claudia Villantes and others were hurt, including children, after an alleged drunk driving accident.
Preliminary details surrounding the crash say that it happened just before 7:30 p.m. along NE Stallings Drive just off East Starr Avenue.
Initial details about the accident said that 27-year-old Claudia Villantes was in a Jeep Patriot slowing to turn off of southbound lanes. Behind Villantes, a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 69-year-old Griceldo Garcia slowed, as well. That's when police say a Ford F-150 crashed into both vehicles.
Due to the collision, Garcia and a woman and child from his vehicle were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Garcia's injuries ultimately proved fatal. Villantes and another child involved in the crash were said to have minor injuries.
The Ford driver was allegedly drunk at the time of the collision, and it appears there are pending charges for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. No further information is available at this time.
It's just so devastating to see the lives of these families torn apart, yet it seems to happen all the time in Texas. Our state tragically has a serious problem with drunk driving, and it's something I dedicate a lot of my time to fighting against. A big part of that is helping people to understand that it's rarely as simple as just getting a driver in front of a judge. There could also be alcohol providers involved who need to face charges, administrative penalties, or even liability under dram shop law.
I bring this up because, having confronted more negligent alcohol providers than just about any other firm in the state, I've seen how quickly they clean up their act when they feel the direct consequences of their actions. Without those consequences, they continue to put the community in danger, and it's just a matter of time before more families have to suffer. Whether or not anything like that applies here remains to be scene, of course. But it appears authorities are taking steps to see that an allegedly drunk driver gets their day in court. Is that the full story that the victims and families deserve?
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