An intoxicated manslaughter case has been making headlines in Texas because of its tragic nature.
Five family members in one car died when their father crashed the vehicle into a bulldozer as he drove home from a Father’s Day party at Medina Lake in San Antonio.
The fifth victim died on June 21. Eight-year-old Abram Demers was on a life support machine but he was taken off it.
The other victims were the boy’s mother Roxanna Mendoza Demers, and three brothers, Ezra, 1, Jeshua, 4, and Silas, 9.
The father Larry William Demers, 35, is being held in Bexar County Jail’s infirmary, Police said he was speeding when he lost control of the car and drove into the equipment by the side of the highway. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
He has been charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.
Intoxicated manslaughter means drunk driving resulting in a death. It is a second degree felony in Texas carrying a potential prison term of 2-20 years.
Although a person charged with intoxicated manslaughter is eligible for probation, the person must serve a minimum of 120 days in jail as a condition of that probation.
Normally if a driver is charged with a DWI, most judges in Texas will not order an ignition interlock on their car a condition of the driver’s bond if it a first DWI offense.
However, in cases of Intoxicated Assault, Manslaughter, or another DWI offense, you are required by law to install an ignition interlock device on your car. You are banned from driving any vehicle that is not equipped with an interlock device.
