In Houston, Fatal Semi Accident Leaves Father of Four Dead

Houston, TX (Law Firm Newswire) May 13, 2014 – The driver of a tractor-trailer stands accused of drunk driving that killed a father of four in Houston, Texas.

Willie James Johnson Jr., 42, was jailed after a fatal accident on the night of April 6. He has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter in the death of Adrian Garcia of Houston. The accident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on Beechnut Street near Cook Road.

“It appears that the driver should never have been behind the wheel of any vehicle, let alone a big rig,” said Houston personal injury attorney Richard LaGarde. “Commercial truck drivers have an even higher responsibility to drive safely than the rest of us, because passenger vehicles cannot stand up to trucks in accidents. My heart goes out to the family of the victim.”

Garcia was less than half a mile from his southwest Houston home when the accident happened. Police say he was driving his Chevrolet Tahoe southbound on Cook Road and had a green light to cross Beechnut Street. But as he did so, witnesses say Johnson ran his red light and struck him with his big-rig tractor, which had no trailer attached.

Garcia was taken to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, where he died later that night.

Police took Johnson into custody at the scene and accused him of being intoxicated. They said there were several witnesses to the accident. “Eyewitnesses are important in cases like this,” LaGarde added. “Without them, it could be impossible to determine who directly caused the accident, regardless of the question of intoxication.”

News reports indicate that Johnson has previously been convicted of possession of marijuana, criminal mischief, evading arrest and possession of a weapon on school grounds. Police are investigating the accident, questioning Johnson and reviewing security camera footage from the area.

“If you are injured — or if a family member is injured or killed — in an auto accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney,” LaGarde said.

Learn more at http://www.lagardelaw.com.