Authorities arrested a San Marcos man Saturday who had been charged with intoxication manslaughter after he allegedly was twice the legal alcohol limit in a fatal June collision in Kyle.
Cory Wayne New, 22, was booked into the Hays County Jail on one count of intoxication manslaughter, which is a first degree felony.
Jeff Barnett, Kyle police chief, said the accident occurred June 12 around 6 p.m. near the 211 mile marker on I-35 in Kyle.
Barnett said New, who was 21 at the time of the incident, was driving along northbound Interstate 35 in a 2016 Freightliner moving truck when he rear ended an 18-wheeler that was slowing down onto the shoulder.
Austin Wayne Prince, 28, of Plano, was taken to an Austin area hospital, where he died June 13. New was transported to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, Roberto Diaz-Salas, 47, was not injured in the accident.
Barnett said the accident report attributed the accident to a failure of the driver, later identified as New, to control the speed of the vehicle; driver inattention “may have been a contributing factor to the accident.”
A subsequent investigation into the incident showed at the time of the collision, New’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was .149, which is nearly twice over the legal limit of .08.
A warrant was issued for News’ arrest, Barnett said. The warrant was served during a routine traffic stop on FM 1626 Saturday, where New was the passenger in a vehicle.
New is being held at the Hays County Jail on a bond of $125,000.
