An Alton man was arrested Friday after he allegedly crashed into a tree while intoxicated resulting in his passenger being killed from his injuries, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Fabian Hernandez, 22, was charged with intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree, killing Luis Armando Santana Valero, 38, on September 18 last year.
Valero died at a local hospital following the crash.
According to the affidavit, McAllen police responded to the 4600 block of west State Highway 107 at approximately 5:59 a.m. where they found Hernandez in his 2015 gray Nissan Altima.
“Mr. Hernandez was driving west bound on State Highway 107 and veered off the roadway and collided with a tree,” the affidavit said. “The passenger of his vehicle, [Santana], eventually died of his injuries at the hospital.”
His obituary lists the date of his death as Sept. 27.
Hernandez was also transported to the hospital and officers at the scene reported that they smelled the odor of alcohol emitting from Hernandez and in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.
One officer observed an empty bottle of liquor in the vehicle as well, according to the document.
The following day police obtained Hernandez’s medical records through a subpoena which revealed that he had alcohol in his system when he arrived at the hospital.
Hernandez was arrested and released the same day on a $30,000 bond.
It’s not immediately clear why there’s a gap between the time of the crash and Hernandez’s arrest.
