In the early hours of Saturday morning, Denton Police arrested an 18-year-old driver, Jonathan Vargas, for Intoxication Manslaughter following a crash on southbound I-35E.
At 3:16 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a Dodge Charger driving without headlights and swerving across lanes. The officer initiated a traffic stop by activating emergency lights. Instead of complying, the Charger accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Approximately 30 seconds after the attempted traffic stop, the Charger collided with the back of a sedan, forcing it off the interstate and onto the service road near Wind River Lane.
The officer rushed to the sedan and performed life-saving measures on the rear passenger. Unfortunately, the passenger was later pronounced deceased. The victim was identified as 47-year-old Douglas Alfredo Gonzalez-Cerna of Lewisville. The sedan driver and front passenger were hospitalized for treatment but have since been released.
Jonathan Vargas, the Charger's driver, sustained minor lacerations when his vehicle flipped during the crash. Following an on-scene investigation, Vargas was arrested for Intoxication Manslaughter and Evading Arrest/Detention with Vehicle Causes Serious Bodily Injury or Death.
He is currently held at the City of Denton Jail, with bond yet to be determined.
