An 18-year-old from Denton, Texas has been arrested on charges of intoxication manslaughter following a high-speed crash that left a father of four dead, authorities said. The teen, identified as Jonathan Vargas, allegedly slammed his Dodge Charger into the back of a sedan on I-35 after speeding more than 100 mph early Saturday morning, according to FOX 4 News.
Denton Police reported that an officer first spotted the Charger with no headlights, weaving between lanes, which led to the initiation of a traffic stop. Instead of pulling over, Vargas accelerated, triggering a short pursuit that ended with the tragic collision near Wind River Lane. Tragically, Douglas Gonzalez, a 47-year-old sleeping in the back seat of the sedan, was pronounced dead at the scene. His relatives shared their hope that the incident raised awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.
In the aftermath of the crash, which pushed the sedan off the interstate onto a service road, Vargas was taken into custody. He faces charges of intoxication manslaughter and evading arrest/detention with a vehicle that causes serious bodily injury or death, as per police reports. Currently, Vargas is being held at the City of Denton Jail, with no bond set as of yet.
Survivors of the crash, Alvaro Romero and his wife, who were in the front seats of the sedan and related to the deceased, sustained injuries but were later released from the hospital. "He took away a father, a son, a husband, a friend, a brother, he put a big hole in our heart, a big hole," Romero said. To support the bereaved family and transport Gonzalez's remains to El Salvador, a GoFundMe has been established by relatives and concerned community members, as per WFAA.
Gonzalez, who had been celebrating his birthday just days before in El Salvador, was remembered fondly for his laugh and character. Although his life was prematurely taken by the reckless actions of a young driver, his family vows to keep his memory alive in their hearts.
