An assistant principal at Reed Elementary School in Leander ISD is facing a Class A misdemeanor DWI charge after allegedly striking a cyclist while driving intoxicated, as CBS Austin reported. The incident occurred near the school grounds at approximately 7:20 a.m., with Marta Alicia Johnson, the assistant principal in question, found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.282, well above Texas's legal limit of 0.08.
After the collision, which took place on Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park police officers arrived at the scene finding the victim with road rash and lacerations; Johnson, while still in the driver's seat, showed signs of impairment and later on, breath tests unveiled her high blood alcohol level, her position at the school was confirmed through the school's directory, and then she was promptly taken into custody, a statement from Reed Elementary's Principal Cynthia Griggs detailed Johnson was placed on administrative leave and encouraged a supportive dialogue among students about the incident.
Additional reports from KVUE indicate that Johnson remained in her vehicle post-collision and appeared to act strangely when initially approached by police officers responding to the accident, even admitting to being on her phone at the time of the collision, though she initially refused to provide details to the Highway Enforcement Unit Officers at the scene.
Once questioned further, Johnson told officers that she was coming from her residence in Leander, had consumed two hard seltzers the night before, and claimed no further alcohol consumption or drug use, despite officers noting her inability to maintain balance and the strong smell of alcohol on her breath; she was later arrested after failing a field sobriety test and now faces legal proceedings with her bond set at $5,000.
