McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A Texas jury on Friday found a driver guilty of intoxication manslaughter in the deaths of eight people who were hit by an SUV that crashed into a crowded bus stop outside a migrant shelter on the US-Mexico border.
The verdict was handed down by a Cameron County jury more than a year after authorities said George Alvarez lost control of the vehicle after running a red light. The deadly scene occurred in Brownsville, which has long been an epicenter for migration.
Alvarez was found guilty of eight counts of intoxication manslaughter at the end of a weeklong trial, Cameron County Prosecutor Edward Sandoval said.
The sentencing phase is scheduled for later Friday. He faces up to 160 years in prison.
A shelter operator said the victims hit by the vehicle had… I’ve been waiting for the bus to get back to downtown Brownsville. after spending the night at the shelter. Authorities said Alvarez tried to flee but was restrained by several people at the shelter.
Prosecutors said there was sufficient evidence to suggest Alvarez was intoxicated. The Brownsville Herald reportedAlvarez admitted to using cocaine, but said he last used it several days before the crash, the paper said.
Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said at the time of the crash that his SUV ran a red light, lost control, rolled onto its side and struck 18 people. Six people died at the scene and 12 were seriously injured. The victims were all men and several of them were from Venezuela.
