Arlington police warn of drinking and driving after two DWI-related accidents
Arlington police responded to two major DWI accidents this week — one in which a driver ran a red light and hit another vehicle, and one where a car crashed into a swimming pool.
On Monday night, officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of West Pioneer Parkway and West Green Oaks Boulevard, said Jesse Minton, an Arlington police spokesperson. An Acura with five occupants was turning left onto Green Oaks when a Chevy Tahoe coming the opposite direction on Pioneer Parkway ran a red light and slammed into the passenger side of the Acura.
The Chevy rolled multiple times while the Acura spun several times.
Two passengers in the back of the Acura were ejected from the vehicle. Investigators believe they weren’t wearing seatbelts, police said. The other three passengers in the Acura were wearing seatbelts and did not get ejected. All five were taken to a local hospital and were later released.
The suspect driving the Chevy Tahoe, 28-year old Matthew Gill of Hutchins, was arrested and booked into the Arlington City Jail on one count of DWI after he was out of the hospital.
A video of the incident was captured by an off-duty officer, who has a dash cam in his personal car, Minton said. The officer had his passenger call 911 and immediately went to check on the people involved to make sure they were OK.
Minton said Arlington police released the dash cam video to paint an honest and vivid picture of the dangers drinking and driving pose.
Then on Wednesday, officers responded to another major accident on Karen Court, Minton said.
The driver of a red Mitsubishi lost control of her car at the 3500 block of South Center Street, rammed through a residential fence on Karen Court and came at a stop in the swimming pool, police said. Officers determined that the suspect, 22-year-old Maria Lopez-Castanon of Arlington, was intoxicated.
Lopez-Castanon was taken to a local hospital and later released. There were no serious injuries.
She was booked into the Arlington City Jail on one count of DWI.
Minton advised that before going out to drink, people should plan out how they’re going to go home, whether that be an Uber or a friend that hasn’t been drinking, and sometimes it’s better to simply stay in place.
At the end of the day, Minton said, there is never a reason to drink and drive.
“If you’re gonna drink and get behind the wheel of a car, you’re endangering your life and everyone else’s life out there,” he said.
