SAN JUAN – A second person is facing criminal charges in connection with a road-rage crash that left one man dead.
40-year-old Carlos Manuel Garcia Sancho was arraigned April 4 on an intoxication manslaughter charge in connection with a three-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of Roberto Carlos Rios Rodriguez of San Juan.
Sancho had been hospitalized since the crash, and was transferred to the Hidalgo County Jail following his arraignment, according to San Juan Police Chief Leandro Sifuentes. According to Sifuentes, a preliminary investigation determined Sancho had a 0.29 blood/alcohol content (BAC), and was under the influence of alcohol and opiates at the time of the crash.
The crash happened March 26 at the 400 block of State Highway 495 following a road-rage incident involving three vehicles. Roberto Victor Sotullo was previously identified as a third driver involved in the crash and was subsequently charged with collision involving death.
According to a criminal complaint, Sotullo claimed he was being chased by the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado (subsequently identified as Sancho) and was traveling at speeds of up to 109 miles per hour prior to the crash.
Sotullo told police he saw the crash happen and “was relieved and went home” without staying at the scene or calling authorities, the complaint states.
Sancho’s bond was set at $75,000.
Degrees of fault in road rage personal injury claims
Establishing levels of fault in Texas road rage crashes hinges on the degree of negligence or recklessness that a plaintiff is claiming. When making a claim of gross negligence or more serious aggression, the plaintiff has a higher burden of proof, which might require proving the other driver’s mental state.
If you believe you have such a claim, the personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm can investigate the details of your accident to determine what the available evidence supports. If we find that a legal action would most likely be unsuccessful, we can explain why and explore other possible options.
Successful personal injury lawsuits stemming from road rage incidents generally depend on proving the other driver’s fault for negligence, recklessness, or intentional harm. Keep in mind that Texas road rage incident liability can be shared by all drivers in any one incident.
If you can prove you’re no more than 50% responsible, you can still sue for damages. However, any evidence that you engaged with another driver’s rage can reduce the damages you’re entitled to. That’s why avoiding confrontation and reporting safety concerns are crucial for the success of a road rage claim.
Every case depends on the facts specific to the incident. Call the J. Gonzalez Law Firm today for a free assessment of your case. Since we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, you pay us only if the case we build secures compensation. You can contact us via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
