Investigation of Fatal Car Crash
This afternoon, the Houston Chronicle reported that the car accident involving a police officer may be alcohol related.
Prosecutors are awaiting blood test results before deciding whether to charge an off-duty Texas City police officer whose pickup slammed into a parked car last week, killing a La Marque woman.
Investigators need alcohol blood-level results, completion of an accident reconstruction and statements from witnesses on the whereabouts of Officer John L. White, 36, before the fatal accident, Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said today.
"The best guess is that we're probably at least two weeks away from having all we've asked for," Sistrunk said.
He said that if the evidence supported it, White could be charged with intoxication manslaughter, a felony carrying a punishment ranging from two to 20 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.
Leticia L. Ortiz, 26, died after White's Ford F-150 pickup plowed into her Toyota Yaris, parked on the shoulder of the eastbound lane in the 9000 block of FM 1764, at 1:29 a.m. Friday, Department of Public Safety spokesman Ken Jones said.
Sistrunk said the DPS and the Texas City police were continuing their investigations.
Texas City Police Cpt. Brian Goetschius said White suffered a "few bumps and bruises" and will remain on duty during the investigation.
"Our office has assisted the DA's office and the DPS in whatever they have requested," Goetschius said. He referred all questions about the investigation to Sistrunk.
Sistrunk said in an e-mail that his office's on-call attorney was called to the scene by the Texas City police as is typical in all fatal accidents where intoxication is suspected to have played a role. The prosecutor worked with troopers and police to gather evidence at the scene and made requests for further information, Sistrunk said.
He said blood drawn from White was taken to the DPS laboratory for expedited analysis.
Records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education show that White worked with the Port of Galveston Police Department from November 2001 to April 2004 before joining the Texas City Police Department.
