Photo: Harris County Jail;
A Texas man accused of causing a fatal car accident that killed a young mother allegedly had 12 drinks before he got behind the wheel, according to multiple reports.
Taylor Phillips, 23, was killed Sunday night after Erick Hernandez, 19, allegedly crashed into her SUV. Hernandez allegedly crossed three lanes of traffic while driving drunk before the collision, theHouston Chronicleand local stationsKPRCandABC13report.
Hernandez has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, the outlets report.
On Wednesday, prosecutors allegedly said a video from inside a bar showed Hernandez consuming 12 drinks, including three tequila shots, over the course of six hours before getting into his truck and driving off. He was allegedly never asked for his ID despite being underage.
“Literally one minute after he left (the bar), he took the life of Ms. Phillips,” said Sean Teare, Chief of the Vehicular Crimes Division in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, KPRC reports. “Right now there are Christmas presents under a tree for a mother who will never open them, a child who will never know his mother because of the irresponsible actions of all six individuals charged in this tragedy.”
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Philips’s mother, Carmen Rainer, told ABC13 on the night of the crash,Philips, her mother and her 1-year-old son, Mason, were driving homeafter a weekend of visiting family in New Orleans. They were five minutes from home.
Rainer said that after the crash, she lost consciousness briefly before assessing the horrific scene.
Hernandez appeared in court on Wednesday and is out of jail on a $30,000 bond. It is unclear whether he has an attorney. He has not entered a plea.
AGoFundMe pagehas been started to help support Mason. As of Friday, it has raised more than $3,000 of its $5,000 goal.
“This family should be celebrating the holiday, but is instead planning a funeral,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said, KPRC reports. “This tragedy should never have happened.”
source: people.com
