Granbury teen accused of intoxication manslaughter in friend's traffic death

By Domingo Ramirez Jr.

ramirez@star-telegram.com

A Granbury teen who was at what Hood County authorities called an "underage alcohol party" earlier this month and then drove away was arrested Monday afternoon on a charge of intoxication manslaughter in the traffic death of a friend.

Authorities also this morning arrested a 19-year-old female who investigators say furnished alcohol to minors at the party held at her home in the gated community of Pecan Plantation in Hood County.

Marcus Click, 19, of Granbury, who was seriously injured in the June 16 wreck, surrendered to Hood County authorities Monday afternoon. He was released on $30,000 bail. Passenger Luke Thomas Urbanovsky, 19, a 2011 graduate of Granbury High School, was killed in the wreck.

This morning, Shelbi Hardin, 19, at whose house the party was held, surrendered to authorities and was in the Hood County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bail.

Hardin faces four counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor, said Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds.

"At this time, the case is still under investigation," Deeds said in a telephone interview. "It's possible that there could be more arrests."

Deeds said investigators found that Click and Urbanovsky were at a party on Valcour Court before the crash. The homeowner was out of town.

The classmates left the party in a car driven by Click.

The car was traveling at high speed, failed to make a curve and hit a tree in the 9600 block of Ravenswood Road about a mile from the Valcour Court residence shortly before 2:47 a.m., Deeds said.

Investigators determined that alcohol was provided at the party, which included more than 10 people ages 18 to 21, authorities said.

The Hood County News reported that in addition to Hardin, five other 19-year-olds, one 18-year-old and one 21-year-old were still at the scene when officers arrived. Two were transported to the hospital for possible alcohol poisoning.

Authorities found a large amount of alcohol at the residence, and it appeared that steps had been taken to prevent detection of the illegal drinking party, according to the newspaper report.

Urbanovsky had just completed his first year at Texas A&M University in College Station and was studying chemical engineering.

Granbury High's website lists Urbanovsky's achievements as Academic All-State Football (First Team), Distinguished Achievement Scholar, National Honor Society, Optimist Young Texan and UIL Scholar.

Click also received an award for Distinguished Achievement Scholar.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Texas Department of Public Safety are assisting Hood County sheriff's investigators.

This reports contains information from Star-Telegram archives.

Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763

Twitter: @mingoramirezjr.