What started as an early morning drive on U.S. Highway 281 near Farm-to-Market 1863 in Bulverde turned deadly on April 14, when a Chevrolet Cruze slammed into an overpass, killing a passenger and a dog and leaving the car crushed beneath the structure.
Authorities say the driver, 22-year-old San Antonio resident Preston King, was later arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the crash. King was taken to a hospital after the collision and eventually booked into jail. Records indicate a warrant tied to the crash was issued in June, and that he later posted bond.
Investigators: event-data recorder shows triple-digit speed
According to KSAT, investigators used search warrants to pull data from the Cruze's onboard event-data recorder. The warrant states the car registered about 111 mph five seconds before impact and 74 mph a half-second before the crash.
Bulverde police told investigators an officer had earlier clocked the Cruze at more than 100 mph in a 65 mph zone and tried to pull it over before losing sight of it, according to the warrant. The affidavit says the car went airborne for more than 100 feet and then crashed under the Highway 281 overpass near FM 1863, where deputies found three occupants.
Medical records cited in the warrant showed King's blood-alcohol concentration at about 0.138, and investigators reported that cannabinoids were also present in his system.
Victim identified
Funeral records and a memorial posted by Sunset Memorial Oaks identify the passenger who died in the crash as 21-year-old Alyssa Taylor Sepeda, with April 14 listed as her date of death. An obituary on Legacy.com includes additional information about her family and service arrangements.
Legal implications
King faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter as defined in Texas Penal Code §49.08. Under Penal Code §12.33, a conviction on a second-degree felony typically carries a potential sentence of two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, with the statute also outlining possible enhancements in certain situations.
What happens next
According to court records, a warrant for King's arrest was issued on June 12. He was arrested on June 16 and booked on a $200,000 bond, and KSAT reports that he posted bond on June 17.
Prosecutors will now review the investigation and determine formal charges. As the case moves through the system, future court dates and filings are expected to be available through Comal County's criminal courts.
