HARLINGEN — Family and friends of David Salinas have been waiting weeks for this.
On Thursday, it finally happened.
A Cameron County grand jury has indicted a Harlingen woman on manslaughter charges after she struck and killed a motorcyclist.
Taylor Nicole Ramirez, 23, is now charged with intoxication manslaughter, a second degree felony in connection to the Aug. 30 incident.
Police said she hit 29-year-old Salinas with her 2015 Honda Accord at the intersection of Loop 499 and East Grimes.
At the time, Ramirez and a friend had just left the Tipsy Tavern.
Police said Ramirez was drunk when she struck Salinas who was riding his yellow Kawasaki motorcycle that was stopped at the intersection.
Salinas was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries three days later.
At the crash scene, Ramirez appeared drunk and failed a field sobriety test, police said.
Investigators said she refused to provide a breath sample and was taken to the hospital for a blood test as part of Cameron County’s “No Refusal” policy.
She initially was charged with third-degree felony intoxication assault and a Class B misdemeanor for possession of marijuana.
On Thursday, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz presented the “enhanced” charge to the grand jury and Ramirez was indicted.
Officials with the district attorneys office declined to release Ramirez’s blood alcohol level at the time of the crash. It is currently secured as evidence and will be released in court.
Ramirez has a criminal history.
In 2014, she was arrested after interfering in the arrest of another. During that time she showed signs of intoxication.
She was charged with public intoxication and fined
Ramirez is expected to be arraigned on the new charges in the coming weeks.
