A 26-year-old San Juan man has been indicted on allegations that he was under the influence of “duster” when he drove into oncoming traffic and caused a crash that killed a man and injured his wife.
A grand jury indicted Juan Carlos Martinez on March 16 on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle.
The fatal crash occurred Feb. 15, 2020, at approximately 6:42 p.m. in the 500 block of East FM 495.
Police say he was operating a Ford F-150 when he drove into oncoming traffic and hit a red Jeep SUV while under the influence of “duster,” a commonly abused inhalant.
The crash killed 53-year-old Sergio Escobedo, who was a passenger in the Jeep, and injured Susanna Escobedo, who was the driver.
At the time of the crash, police say that Martinez, who was not arrested until last month, was disoriented.
Authorities also found a 10-ounce can of the inhalant inside the truck that was half empty, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“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. Sifuentes that he had inhaled some of the contents of the DUSTER that was inside his vehicle,” the affidavit read.
Police say he failed a field sobriety test and that 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.
Martinez remains jailed on $350,000 in bonds for the charges and is scheduled for arraignment on April 8.
