A tragic sequence of events unfolded over the weekend on I-30 near Baird Farm Road in Arlington, leading to the death of a young man and several others injured in a multi-vehicle crash, as reported by the Arlington Police Department. At around 3:50 a.m. last Saturday, Angel Alonso, a 19-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision after his attempts to manage the aftermath of a prior accident were cut short by a fatal encounter with another vehicle, as per the City of Arlington.
The initial crash involved Alonso's 2005 Chevrolet Silverado and a stationary, unoccupied Jaguar XE on the right shoulder; he exited his vehicle to signal oncoming traffic with his cell phone light, according to the police investigation, when a 2014 Lexus IS 250, driven by 33-year-old Brittani Watkins, collided with both Alonso and the Silverado causing the Lexus to roll on its side. Watkins and a male passenger were transported to a hospital, she with non-life-threatening injuries and he with serious injuries, while witnesses reported the Lexus had been swerving preceding the incident, later leading to Watkins’ arrest on suspicion of DWI after officers suspected intoxication and obtained a blood sample.
After her medical clearance, Brittani Watkins was taken into custody and is now held at the Tarrant County Jail, the arrest occurring amidst revelations that she may be charged further pending investigation results. Her detainment was prompted by the suspicion of driving while intoxicated, a detail arising from the Arlington Police's conversations with her and witness statements about the vehicle's erratic movement.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office has subsequently identified the deceased as Alonso, creating a somber footnote to the weekend's events, and reminding the community of the harrowing consequences that can accompany any decision to take the wheel under impairment, remaining in custody, Watkins now faces the legal repercussions of her alleged actions during that fateful early morning on the interstate.
