A San Antonio family is “clinging to life” at University Hospital after what started as an undercover drug bust “ended in a deadly crash along I-35” in mid-September,according to Channel 5 News. Walter Maspero, a 3-year-old, was killed in the crash, and his mother, father, and two younger siblings were in critical condition. The family’s other child, who was also in the car, was not injured. David Rodriguez, the 30-year-old responsible for the crash, “is being charged with capital murder” in the case.
Police have said that they were investigating a potential drug ring at a home, and stopping everyone who was leaving the home where the suspected drug activity was taking place. Rodriguez, behind the wheel of a black suburban, refused to stop. “As police chased the fleeing suspect along I-35 near Shepard Road, he turned around and tried to head north, slamming head-on into the Volvo carrying the Maspero family.”
Rodriguez, who police have since said was carrying hundreds of pounds of marijuana, could face federal drug charges in addition to capital murder in the state of Texas. He was in stable condition after the accident.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, “police pursuit records provide some frightening statistics.” One out of every 100 high-speed pursuits results in a fatality. Innocent third parties, such as the young Maspero boy, constitute 42 percent of persons killed or injured in police pursuits.
Because of these staggering statistics, and also because of the risk of heightened charges, if you are confronted by police in the act of a crime, it’s always best not to run or attempt a high-speed chase. Unlike in the movies, criminal suspects rarely get away, and the risk of killing yourself or an innocent further increases your chance of increased charges. Instead of running, put your faith in an experienced and competent Texas criminal attorney. We can help to get your life back on track. Contact our offices today.