In a sobering reminder of the perils that can unfold in school zones, a 20-year-old woman is facing charges for driving while intoxicated and intoxication assault after she allegedly struck an 11-year-old girl at a Pflugerville intersection, as reported by CBS Austin. The arrest affidavit states that Braydin Jean Garcia was taken into custody on September 6 following the incident, which occurred as nearby schools were releasing students. Witnesses claimed that Garcia ran a red light at the intersection of Kelly Lane and Falcon Pointe Boulevard, colliding with the child who was in the crosswalk at the time.
According to the same report, the 11-year-old girl sustained multiple injuries, including broken bones that necessitated surgery, and she was rendered unconscious due to the impact. Officers who arrived at the scene around 2:45 p.m. noted Garcia's impaired behavior, citing signs such as slow speech and swaying. Though a breathalyzer test came back negative for alcohol, police suspect drug intoxication, potentially involving THC vape pens found in Garcia's vehicle.
Another distressing incident surfaced on the same day when, according to KXAN, a minor was seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle operated by an alleged drunk driver. The collision took place near the intersection of southbound Farm to Market 685 and Kelly Lane, prompting a response from Pflugerville Police Department officers at approximately 3:45 p.m. The injured minor was promptly transported to Dell Children’s Medical Center to receive treatment for serious injuries.
The driver in the latter incident was arrested and charged with intoxication assault and has been taken to Travis County for central booking. While details are still forthcoming and the investigation continues, the confluence of these two events highlights the immediate dangers associated with driving under the influence, particularly in areas with a high concentration of vulnerable pedestrians, such as school zones and nearby intersections.
