ARLINGTON, TX (11/07/2015) — A drunk driving accident killed 5-year-old Deunna Fairchild and injured six other people on Saturday morning.
According to police, 5-year-old Deunna Fairchild was killed, and six others were injured, after a single-vehicle drunk driving accident in Arlington, Texas.
Authorities reported that at around 9:30 a.m., 25-year-old Valencia Freeman was traveling southbound in the 5100 block of South Collins Street at Endicott Drive in a Mercury Grand Marquis when she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a wooden pole.
“Investigators believe that speed and impairment are contributing factors in this crash,” police said in a news release.
The car carried seven occupants — three adults and four children ages 3 to 9.
5-year-old Deunna Fairchild was pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m. by the Tarrant County medical examiner. Another child was taken to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas in serious to critical condition; one adult was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth with non-life-threatening injuries.
The remaining four victims were all treated at Medical Center Arlington. The adults were found to have non-life-threatening injuries. The children’s conditions are currently unknown.
Freeman was charged with one count of intoxication manslaughter, three counts of intoxication assault, failure to maintain financial responsibility, no valid driver’s license, and an unrestrained child.
She was booked into the Arlington City Jail, but has since been released.
“At the end of the day, people have to make good choices,” police spokesman Christopher Cook said. “Watch your speed. Never, ever get behind the wheel if you’ve had alcohol.”
Commentary
More than 50 percent of fatal accidents are caused by drunk drivers. Tragic accidents like this one is why we urge drivers to think twice before getting behind the wheel after drinking. Call a cab, a friend, or take public transportation, but driving while intoxicated should never be an option.
