Driver in fatal wrong-way crash charged with intoxication manslaughter

HOUSTON – An innocent man was killed during a wrong-way, head-on crash on the North Freeway.

The crash happened around 2:12 a.m. Thursday between Airtex Drive and Rankin in north Harris County, authorities said.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the driver of a Chevy Impala --identified as Fernando Lopez Aleman—was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of the North Freeway when he struck an oncoming Dodge Charger head-on.

The passenger in the Dodge, identified as Antwon Wallace, was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Police identified the driver of the Dodge as Shandon Bell. He was transported to a hospital with serious bodily injuries, according to authorities.

Investigators said Aleman showed signs of impairment and had a blood-alcohol level more than two times the legal limit. He was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

He has been charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault, authorities said.

Sean Teare, with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, said drunk driving is unacceptable; and he and the community are tired of the loss of life.

“We are days away from Christmas, and we are going to have to go tell a family that their loved one is never going to spend another Christmas with them,” Teare said.

Teare said authorities will be conducting an investigation into the crash to determine if anyone else played a roll in it.

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“The number one goal is to hold the individual at fault responsible,” Teare said. “The secondary goal for this entire community is to go see if anybody else played a part in this loss of life. If they did, they are going to get arrested, get charged and we are going to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

The North Freeway has since been reopened.