Jury selection is set to begin Monday, March 23, in the case of a San Antonio man accused of driving the wrong way on I-35 and killing a 26-year-old passenger in a head-on crash last year. The victim, Yulissa Cristal Valero, was a newly minted mother whose relatives say she was focused on raising her young son. The defendant, 25-year-old Christopher Rey Navarro, is expected to appear in Bexar County this week as Valero's family prepares to face him in court.
Jury selection in the intoxication manslaughter case is scheduled to get underway Monday in San Antonio, according to KENS5. Prosecutors say Navarro is accused of driving the wrong way while intoxicated and causing the collision that killed Valero, and court filings indicate the process is expected to move forward as a full jury trial.
How the Crash Unfolded
San Antonio police responded shortly after 2 a.m. on Jan. 13, 2024, to a head-on collision on I-35 near West César Chávez Boulevard. The Bexar County Medical Examiner later identified the passenger who died as 26-year-old Yulissa Cristal Valero. Two other people in the northbound car were taken to the hospital with serious injuries, and the alleged wrong-way driver survived and was treated before his arrest, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
An arrest affidavit reviewed by investigators states that officers first spotted a vehicle traveling the wrong way on I-10 and tried to pull it over, even attempting to deploy tire spikes, before the freeway pursuit ended in the fatal crash. The affidavit says Navarro told officers he had been out eating and drinking with a co-worker and did not recall leaving the restaurant, driving the wrong way or the collision itself, according to reporting from KENS5.
Charges and What They Mean
Navarro has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, a state offense codified in Texas Penal Code §49.08, according to Justia. Under Texas law, that offense is typically a second-degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison, as outlined in penalty tables from the Texas Attorney General's office.
Family and Community Reaction
Friends and relatives have held vigils and memorials since the crash, telling local outlets they want stronger action to curb drunk driving and to keep other families from suffering similar losses. Those gatherings and the family's public pleas were detailed by KSAT, which noted their call for San Antonio to take the risks of drunk driving more seriously.
What to Watch at Trial
With jury selection now on deck, prosecutors are expected to lean heavily on the arrest affidavit, any toxicology or hospital records and witness statements about the alleged wrong-way driving. The defense is likely to highlight what Navarro says he does or does not remember and to question how investigators linked him to each step of the incident. Before jurors hear closing arguments, the proceedings are expected to include pretrial evidentiary hearings and witness testimony as both sides present their versions of what happened on the freeway that night.
