DUI suspect left scene of crash with pedestrian in front seat, body parts on roadway: police
02/20/2020 9:56 am PST
KXAN / Austin Police
via KXAN:
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is investigating if a business served alcohol to a man charged in a fatal crash that happened in south Austin on Saturday.
Paul Joseph Garcia Jr., 24, allegedly crashed into Lee Martin Cagle, 55, at the intersection of Slaughter Lane and Menchaca Rd. around 10:30 p.m.
The body of the pedestrian went through the Ford's windshield. Cagle was found in the passenger seat of the vehicle a half-mile south from where the crash happened, the Austin American-Statesman reports. The pedestrian had extreme, traumatic injuries to their head and some body parts had been detached, the affidavit says.
According to an arrest affidavit, Garcia continued to drive on Menchaca Rd. after hitting Cagle, who was pushing a shopping cart in the road. Debris, including car parts and body parts, lined the road for a half-mile from where Cagle was hit, the affidavit says.
TABC said that Garcia indicated to Austin police that he had been drinking at multiple businesses before the crash on Saturday.
The affidavit says witnesses saw Garcia pull the car over and “calmly” walk away from it. Later he was seen walking barefoot just south of the scene at the South Austin Beer Garden, the affidavit says. Surveillance video shows that Garcia emerged from a drainage ditch without shoes on.
The Austin American-Statesman reports Garcia was charged with intoxication manslaughter and accident involving injury because he was driving without regard for the safety of others, including “continuing to drive for one-half miles with a mangled corpse in the vehicle,” the affidavit says.
MORE:
