TERRELL, Texas — A Terrell man is facing several charges after allegedly driving intoxicated and crashing into a tree — severely injuring two young children.
TERRELL, Texas — A Terrell man is facing several charges after allegedly driving intoxicated and crashing into a tree — severely injuring two young children.
The crash was reported just after 5 p.m. in the 200 block of Town North Drive, Terrell Police Department Captain A.D. Sansom stated in a Wednesday press release.
“The vehicle was observed traveling at a high rate of speed, then leaving the roadway, and finally striking a tree,” stated Sansom.
Two female children, ages 1 and 3, were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Police believe the 3-year-old child was restrained in the only child restraint seat in the vehicle and the 1-year-old was unrestrained. Both children received injuries to their heads and faces and were airlifted together by a CareFlite medical helicopter to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
The 3-year-old child is in critical condition as of Wednesday morning, according to Sansom. The 1-year-old is in serious but stable condition.
The driver of the vehicle was identified by police as the children’s father, Jessie Steve Garcia II of Terrell, Texas. Garcia was transported, under police guard, to Presbyterian Hospital in Kaufman, Texas, where he was treated and released back into the custody of the Terrell Police Department who will later transfer him to the Kaufman County Jail.
“The crash remains under investigation, but the primary cause is believed to be intoxication of the driver,” stated Sansom.
Garcia has been charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated with child under 15 years of age, two counts of intoxication assault with vehicle causing serious bodily injury, and two counts of abandon or endanger child with imminent danger or bodily injury. Bond information was not yet available.
