A Pharr man accused of driving drunk and killing a man after crashing into him failed to appear at his court hearing Wednesday is now a wanted man after the judge signed an order for his arrest, court documents show.
Damian Rodrigo Martinez, 23, is charged with intoxicated manslaughter and accident involving death for allegedly killing 51-year-old Juan Carlos Silva who Martinez crashed into on April 24, 2021.
Court records indicate Martinez was supposed to appear in court on Wednesday for a final pre-trial hearing but failed to show up, which resulted in the judge issuing a warrant for his arrest.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the crash involving a black Dodge Charger and a gray Nissan Rogue occurred around 3:07 a.m. that fateful Saturday in the area of Cage Boulevard. and Javelina Drive.
Silva was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers at the scene relayed over the radio that the driver of the Charger entered a white Honda Civic and left the scene.
Officer Joel Garcia, who was directing traffic at the time, observed a Civic matching the description turning northbound on Cage Boulevard. and Javelina Drive so he jumped into his unit to catch up to the suspect vehicle.
Garcia found Martinez in the backseat of the Civic after conducting a traffic stop and observed him to have blood on his pants as well as glass debris.
Once detained, Garcia observed Martinez to be displaying signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, red bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath or person, according to the affidavit.
“The defendant then stated on his own that it was on him and that he was going to take responsibility,” the affidavit said.
Garcia attempted to conduct a field sobriety test on Martinez but he refused.
Martinez was released from jail on March 30 last year on $130,000 in bonds.
