Accused Drunk Drivers arrested in connection with 2 fatal car crashes

Source: Marissa Alanis - Dallas Morning News

Two men are charged in two different Sunday morning drunken driving accidents were behind bars Monday on charges of intoxication manslaughter.

Adrian Childs, 28, was in the Dallas County jail on $100,000 bond, while bond for Patricio Barrios, 63, was set at $35,000, sheriff’s Deputy Michael Ortiz said.

Mr. Childs is accused of a crash that crushed a 5-year-old boy to death in his car seat, while Mr. Barrios was in an accident that killed a 47-year-old woman and seriously injured her husband.

"I can't recall the last time when we had two [such deaths] in one night," said Dallas police Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse. "To deal with a small child like this, it's traumatic even for a veteran police officer."

The crashes happened during a Super Bowl weekend when some area police departments were already on heightened alert for drunken drivers, although there was no indication that either suspect had been at a game-related party.

Adrian Childs Police blamed the first crash on Mr. Childs, who Dallas County records say has two convictions for drug dealing. Mr. Childs was driving a Hyundai Sonata at high speed when he rear-ended a Cadillac about 3:35 a.m. on State Highway 310 near Lamar Street in South Dallas, police said.

The impact collapsed the Cadillac's trunk and caused the back seat to crush Xavier Williams. His mother, whom police did not identify, was driving and survived, as did two of Xavier's siblings.

Mr. Childs' car was then hit by a third vehicle, whose driver was not injured.

Mr. Childs was taken to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas for treatment and later jailed.

Nearly two hours later and several miles away, Vernie Clark of Ennis was a passenger in a pickup driven by her husband on North Central Expressway at Walnut Hill Lane.

Patricio Barrios Police said a Toyota 4Runner driven by Mr. Barrios swerved in front of the Clarks, causing a collision. The pickup then flipped over, pinning the couple inside.

Ms. Clark was taken to Presbyterian Hospital, where she died of her injuries. Authorities said her husband was hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery. They did not release his name or condition.

Mr. Barrios was jailed on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.

Dallas police didn't increase their drunken driving enforcement during the weekend, but Cpl. Janse said police expected to make more DWI arrests than usual Sunday night.

"People don't make the right decisions and don't find other means of transportation," he said.

Other area cities took a more aggressive approach over the weekend, seeking search warrants to draw blood from suspected drunken drivers who refused to submit to breath or blood tests.

If you are hurt in a car accident involving a Drunk Driver, Call or Email Stephen Johnson for a free initial consultation about your Texas personal injury case.

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