A late-night motorcycle ride on Culebra Road in February ended in tragedy, and now San Antonio police say the man behind the handlebars is facing a felony racing charge. Marcus Garcia, 38, was arrested Tuesday after a woman riding on the back of a motorcycle in the early morning hours of Feb. 19 fell from the bike and later died. The crash happened on Culebra Road near Tezel Road, where medics rushed the passenger to a hospital and she was pronounced dead. Investigators now point to surveillance video and an arrest affidavit as the backbone of the case.
Garcia was booked on a charge of highway racing causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony, and is being held at the Bexar County jail with bail set at $150,000, according to San Antonio Express-News. Prosecutors say the offense carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000 if he is convicted. The arrest affidavit quoted by the paper says Garcia initially told officers he witnessed the incident and then gave detectives an account of swapping passengers with another motorcycle.
Store camera footage, investigators say, captured two motorcycles speeding past and audio of one rider revving an engine before taking off. Later clips showed the bikes apparently trying to outpace one another. The arrest affidavit, quoted in San Antonio Express-News, says investigators believe passenger Brittani Flanders fell off Garcia's motorcycle while racing "due to hard acceleration" and because of a lack of experience and training.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner later identified the passenger as Brittani Flanders and determined her cause of death was blunt-force injuries, ruling the manner an accident, according to KSAT. Police said the motorcyclist initially fled the scene and turned back after realizing she had fallen, per the SAPD report. Medics transported her to the hospital, where she later died.
City Leaders Weigh Tools To Curb Illegal Racing
City officials have been wrestling with how to crack down on street racing and parking-lot takeovers that keep popping up on social media. The City Council has explored potential ordinance changes and enforcement options to keep the high-speed stunts off public roads. "Cabello Havrda said city staff members are exploring ways to do better," KSAT reports. Police and council members have leaned on vehicle impoundment, targeted patrols and public awareness campaigns in previous crackdowns.
Legal Implications
The highway-racing charge cited in the affidavit is a second-degree felony, which under Texas law carries a punishment range of two to 20 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000, per the Texas Penal Code. The case will move through Bexar County courts, where prosecutors must show the racing led to serious injury or death, while defense attorneys may challenge the videotape and the sequence of events. Anyone arrested on a felony charge is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Garcia remains in custody as the investigation continues and prosecutors prepare charging documents. Investigators are asking anyone with information or additional video to contact local authorities. The affidavit and surveillance footage are expected to be central pieces of evidence if the case goes to trial.
