Some people just do not belong behind the wheel! I am not talking about people who are not the best sober drivers – they are blessing compared to those who continually drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Text book example will follow.
Formal charges in connection with a fatal automobile crash that happened Sunday have been filed against a Texas man. He is a career driving criminal, and we all would have hoped he could have been taken off the roads before he caused a fatality.
Jose Guzman, 42, is charged with Class B felony causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .15 or more, Class C felonies causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and reckless homicide and two counts of Class D felony causing serious bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to more than 40 years in prison.
The accident occurred just before 4 p.m. Charity E. Bland, 33, of Wheatfield was killed.
Guzman was driving a 2006 Ford F-150 and was behind a 1992 Nissan Stanza driven by Bland. Guzman told police that Bland’s vehicle pulled over to the right and slowed, then made a U-turn as Guzman began to pass. Guzman said he could not stop in time to avoid hitting Bland’s vehicle.
When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, they found Bland unresponsive. A passenger in her vehicle, Richard Adams, told police he was sleeping when the accident occurred.
Bland and Adams were taken to the hospital where Bland was pronounced dead. Adams, who sustained internal injuries, was stable when he was transported from the accident scene and was later transferred to another hospital.
Guzman remains in the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond has been set at $5,000 cash or $12,000 surety.
Guzman has another case pending in Montgomery County. He was charged in June with Class A misdemeanor driving while suspended and Class C misdemeanor failure to stop.
Guzman also has been cited in the past for driving without a valid operator’s license and speeding.
When is enough to make sure he never gets behind the wheel again?