Nearly a year after a fatal San Juan crash, police there have arrested a 26-year-old man and charged him with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle.
Police arrested Juan Carlos Martinez, a San Juan resident, on Saturday, according to jail records.
The fatal crash happened on Feb. 15, 2020, at approximately 6:42 p.m. in the 500 block of East FM 495.
Police allege that Martinez, who was driving a Ford F-150, drove into oncoming traffic and hit a red Jeep SUV while under the influence of “duster,” a commonly abused inhalant.
Sergio Escobedo, 53, a passenger in the Jeep, was unresponsive and taken to McAllen Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Susanna Escobedo, the driver, sustained injuries, police say.
Sergio and Susanna were married, according to Sergio’s obituary.
The responding police officer noted that Martinez was disoriented at the scene and a witness to the crash told authorities the Ford F-150 drove into oncoming traffic when it struck the Jeep.
Police say they found a 10-ounce can of duster that was half empty inside the truck driven by Martinez, who agreed to speak with investigators about the crash.
“Mr. Martinez advised he was on his way to his friend’s house when he was traveling eastbound on FM 495. Martinez stated he only recalls driving eastbound and then he saw lights ahead of him and the impact occurred. Martinez stated he was not drinking alcohol and confessed to Inv. Siguentes that he had inhaled some of the contents of the DUSTER that was inside his vehicle,” the probable cause affidavits reads.
According to police, Martinez admitted to inhaling the chemical between 4 and 5 p.m. that day.
Police say he also failed a field sobriety test and on July 31, a toxicology report from the Texas Department of Public Safety showed he had Alprazolam in his system at the time of the crash.
It’s not immediately clear why Martinez was not arrested until Saturday.
He remains jailed on $350,000 in bonds, records show.
