Inset: Alexander D. Mendoza is seen being arrested by a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Background: The intersection where Mendoza allegedly ran a red light and struck a pregnant driver.
A 30-year-old Texas man is accused of causing the death of an unborn child after authorities say he ran a red light while drinking and driving, crashed into a pregnant woman’s vehicle, and forced her into premature labor.
Alexander Diaz Mendoza was arrested this week and charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to court records.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office reported that the crash occurred on the night of Thursday, Feb. 19, at the intersection of Woodlake Parkway and Binz-Engleman Road in San Antonio.
“What happened is, the suspect in this case disregarded a red light and struck another vehicle,” Sheriff Javier Salazar said in a video shared on the office’s Facebook page. “That vehicle had a pregnant mother [inside], that mother was the driver of the other vehicle. As a result of the accident and the injuries she sustained, she actually went into labor and ended up miscarrying the baby.”
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Mendoza on Tuesday and took him into custody. Salazar identified him as a civilian employee at one of the nearby military bases.
Investigators are still awaiting results from the Intoxilyzer, a device that measures breath alcohol content using infrared light absorption for evidentiary purposes. If the results indicate that Mendoza’s blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit at the time of the crash, he could face an additional charge of intoxication manslaughter related to the unborn child’s death.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by San Antonio-based CBS affiliate KENS provided further details about the collision.
According to the document, Mendoza was allegedly driving 75 mph in a 40 mph zone around 9:30 p.m. when he ran the red light, triggering a four-vehicle crash. One of the vehicles was driven by the pregnant woman. The impact reportedly caused her car to flip and land in a ditch.
Emergency responders transported the woman to a nearby hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery but ultimately lost the child.
At the scene, authorities reported that Mendoza appeared to have bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol, and slurred his speech. Investigators also found an open beer bottle containing alcohol on the front passenger-side floorboard, the affidavit states.
Mendoza is being held at the Bexar County Detention Center. A judge set his bond at $125,000. Court records show he is scheduled to appear again before Judge Miguel Najera on May 5.
The sheriff’s office noted that the investigation remains ongoing.
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