Two brothers on their way to a Dallas Mavericks game were hit in a crosswalk and left with devastating, long-term injuries. One brother suffered a traumatic brain injury. The other sustained a shattered pelvis and has undergone multiple surgeries. Their family says the crash came just days after the death of the brothers’ father. Both men remain hospitalized and are staring down a long, uncertain recovery.
Driver Accused Of Running Red Light, Trying To Bolt
Police identified the driver as 30-year-old Giovanni Perez. Investigators say he ran a red light near the arena, plowed into the brothers in the crosswalk, then tried to take off. Two bystanders, including a retired officer, chased him down and held him until officers arrived.
Witnesses told reporters they saw the driver crack open an alcoholic drink and take a sip after the collision. Those details were reported by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth.
Brothers Still Hospitalized As Family Reels
Doctors treated Chris Purvis for a traumatic brain injury. His brother Cody needed extensive surgery for his shattered pelvis and was placed on a ventilator while surgeons worked to stabilize him.
Giselle Ronquillo, Cody’s wife, told FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, “He would do it again in a heartbeat if he drank a buzzball immediately after. He doesn't care.”
The family says the physical and emotional toll has been crushing in the weeks since the Dec. 18 crash, as they juggle grief for the brothers’ father with the slow, grinding reality of rehab and recovery.
Pedestrian Crashes Keep Climbing
This case is part of a broader, grim pattern. National data show that hit-and-run collisions and nighttime crashes make up a large share of pedestrian deaths. Drivers struck and killed 7,148 pedestrians in the United States in 2024, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Roughly one in four of those deaths involved a hit-and-run, a statistic that underlines how vulnerable people on foot are on busy streets. Those trends were detailed in a 2024 analysis by the GHSA.
What Could Happen In Court
Authorities say the driver was taken into custody, although it was not immediately clear what charges, if any, would follow.
Under Texas law, causing serious bodily injury while intoxicated can be charged as intoxication assault. Causing a death while intoxicated is prosecuted as intoxication manslaughter. Both offenses are set out in Chapter 49 of the Texas Penal Code and carry felony penalties. The statutes and penalties are outlined in the Texas Penal Code, Chapter 49.
