Two Children Killed In Crash, Mother Faces Intoxication Manslaughter Charges
IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) - A North Texas mother faces intoxication manslaughter charges Sunday after a crash that happened around 8 p.m. Saturday killed two of her children and injured two more.
The woman has been identified as 30-year-old Crystal Suniga of Irving.
Police say Suniga was driving a 2003 Honda Pilot SUV eastbound in the 1500 block of E Pioneer Dr. near Gilbert Elementary School and lost control of her vehicle.
The Pilot slammed into two parked cars in the driveway of a private residence, then rolled onto its side and came to rest against the house.
Also in the car were her four children between the ages of 10 and 16 years old.
Two of the children died at the scene of the crash. They have been identified as Suniga's two sons, 10-year-old Ricardo Hernandez and 14-year-old Angel Reyes.
"Unfortunately, they were pinned under the vehicle," said Officer James McLellan, Public Information Officer for the Irving Police Department.
In addition, her 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter were injured in the crash. Both children's identities are unknown at this time.
The 16-year-old had serious injuries, according to police, and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital. The 12-year-old received minor injuries and was taken to Children's Medical Center of Dallas.
Neighbors say they heard a loud crash when the accident happened and began to render aid, trying to remove the victims from the vehicle.
"We just approached the car and the little girl was screaming that she was looking for the her three brothers that were in the car," said Adan Osuna, one of the neighbors who tried to help.
Suniga only suffered from minor injuries and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, police said.
Police quickly were led to believe that speeding and alcohol contributed to the crash, prompting a mandatory blood draw from the mother.
A police spokesman said Suniga's blood alcohol content level was 0.18 - which is more than twice the legal limit.
Investigators say they believed Suniga was driving more than three times the 30 mile per hour speed limit.
At this time, the she faces two counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of injury to a child and one count of intoxication assault.
Suniga was arrested at the hospital and remotely booked into the Dallas County Jail this morning at 7:48 a.m.
No bond has been set.
"Certainly it was a tragic situation. Here is someone that caused the death of her two children, it was completely avoidable and unnecessary," McLellan said.
According to Irving ISD spokeswoman Leslie Weaver, the children attend Gilbert Elementary School and Austin Middle School. Grief counselors will be at each location tomorrow for students and staff.
email: mschmitt@cbs.com
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Latest News:
Top Trending:
- Texas City Working To Turn Sewer Water Into Tap Water
- Plano Man Killed After Reentering Burning Home To Retrieve Phone
- Allen ISD's $60 Million Football Stadium Closed For Months
- Spring One Day, Thundersleet The Next
- North Texas Man "Crowdfunds" $90,000 Birthday Party
- PHOTOS: Your Pet Pictures
