Category Archives: Traffic Safety Division

Traffic Safety Division

District Attorney Provides Phlebotomist To Detention Center This Weekend

The District Attorney’s Office will provide a phlebotomist for this holiday weekend to take blood draws at the city detention center.

Starting tonight, Thursday April 17th at 10 PM until Saturday April 19th the phlebotomist will be on standby to assist officers to obtain collection of blood evidence for accusations of driving while intoxicated.  This will expedite the process after an intoxicated driving suspect consents to give a sample or a  search warrant is issued.   The phlebotomist will be inside city detention center those nights over this weekend from 10 PM until 4 AM.

Traffic Safety Division

Corpus Christi Police Evaluate Driving While Intoxicated Statistics

The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section released statistics related to the offenses associated with driving while intoxicated for the year to date.

The Corpus Christi Police Department made 362 arrests by April 1, 2014 for Driving While Intoxicated or Driving Under the influence which is a 27% increase from the same time last year. There were 284 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated or for Driving Under the Influence by April 1, 2013 with a total of 1,203 total arrest for D.W.I. or D.U.I. in 2013. There were 154 D.W.I. arrests made in the month of March 2014 was an all time record high for a month surpassing the previous high record of 135 set in March of 2013.

The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section further recorded the following statistics:
2014 DWI Stats

359         D.W.I. Arrests as of April 1, 2014
3              D.U.I. Arrests as of April 1, 2014
135         Suspects consented to give a sample of their breath
92           Suspects consented to give a sample of their blood
128         Suspects refused to give a sample of breath or blood and a search warrant was obtained
4              Suspects refused both blood and breath request, and no evidence was obtained

40           Felony DWI cases. 20 for DWI with two or more prior convictions
10 for intoxicated assault
9 DWI with Child Passenger
1 intoxicated manslaughter

.16          Average Breath /Blood results from suspects
103         DWI arrest were involved in Traffic Crashes.

The Corpus Chrisit Police urge everyone to designate a driver before they choose to consume alcoholic beverages.

Traffic Safety Division

Police Arrest Woman for Crash That Kills Man on Highway 181

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2014, 2:14am
Location: 5200 State Highway 181
Offense: Accident Involving Injury or Death (Transportation Code Section 550.021)
Case Number: 1403290032

Corpus Christi Police arrested 52-year-old Tammy Shobar (8/2/1961) after a crash on State Highway 181 overnight which killed a 42-year-old man. Corpus Christi Police responded to a call for debris in the roadway just north of North Beach at 2:14am Saturday. Officers discovered a 42-year-old man in the roadway and he had been struck by a vehicle. The 42-year-old man was taken to the hospital by ambulance but did not survive his injuries. Officers learned that the 42-year-old man walked toward Portland, north on the causeway, on the shoulder and was struck from behind by a vehicle. Officers learned the vehicle left before law enforcement arrival. A Corpus Christi Police Officer on her way home at the end of her shift found a green 2005 Volkswagen Beetle on the side of the road with damage consistent with the crash on the causeway in San Patricio County. The Volkswagen was collected by Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section Crash Investigators.  Crash Investigators continued the investigation until they found Shobar and discovered evidence of the crash. Crash Investigators arrested Shobar and delivered her to the city detention center.

Delta District, Traffic Safety Division

Police Investigate Overnight Crash on North Beach

Date: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 2:31am

Location: 3500 Seagull Boulevard

Offense: Intoxication Assault (Penal Code Section 49.07) 3rd Degree Felony

Case Number: 1403160027

Corpus Christi Police responded to a major single vehicle crash at the 3500 block of Seagull Boulevard on North Beach at 2:30am Sunday morning. Officers learned that a tan 1993 Jeep Wrangler operated by a 34-year-old man traveled north on State Highway 181 over the Harbor Bridge. The Officers learned that the Jeep took the Burleson Street exit at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate the curve. The Officers learned that the Jeep traveled straight through the curve and struck the curb and jumped the embankment. Both the 34-year-old man and his 34-year-old woman passenger were not wearing seatbelts and both were ejected. The man and woman were taken to the hospital by ambulance for treatment of serious injuries. The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section responded to the crash and discovered evidence that alcohol consumption was a contributing factor to the crash. Officers generated an investigation of intoxicated assault against the 34-year-old man. Investigators collected a specimen of blood from the 34-year-old man and released him to medical staff for treatment of his injuries. Hospital staff informed Investigators the injuries for the man and the woman are not life threatening. No other people or property damage was involved in this crash.

Bravo District, Traffic Safety Division

Police Investigate Overnight Crash on Padre Island

Date: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 1:49am

Location: 10600 State Highway 361

Offense: Intoxication Manslaughter (Penal Code Section 49.08) 2nd Degree Felony

Case Number: 1403160025

Corpus Christi Police responded to a head-on vehicle crash which killed a 20-year-old man on the 10600 block of State Highway 361 between Newport Pass Road and Beach Access Road 3 at 1:50am Sunday morning. Officers learned that a white 1014 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by a 24-year-old man travelled south on State Highway 361 and struck a black 2003 Nissan Altima in a head-on collision as the Altima traveled north. The Corpus Christi Fire Department responded and determined the 20-year-old man who operated the Altima did not survive the crash. The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section responded to the scene and believes the impact happened in the northbound lanes which lead Investigators to believe the truck traveled outside of the designated lane and into on-coming traffic. A 21-year-old woman was a passenger in the Altima was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. There were no other people in the Altima at the time of the crash. The 24-year-old man was the only person inside the truck and the 24-year-old man was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

A man in a blue 2008 Chrysler Sebring stopped next to the pickup truck which was overturned and in the middle of the road. The man in the Chrysler got out of his car to offer help before the emergency crews arrived. A black 2007 Ford Mustang operated by a 30-year-old man was unable to see the crashed truck and the parked Chrysler in time to avoid a collision because of fog and struck both the truck and the Chrysler while no person was inside the truck or Chrysler. The 30-year-old man and his two women passengers were not injured in the second crash. Emergency crews arrived to set up lights and avoid another collision on the highway until the debris was cleaned. The entire highway was closed to traffic for about four hours.

The Corpus Christi Police discovered evidence that alcohol consumption may be a contributing factor to the original crash. The 24-year-old man who operated the pickup truck remained in the hospital for medical treatment and Investigators have collected a specimen of his blood for analysis. Investigators generated an investigation for intoxicated manslaughter which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Traffic Safety Division

Accident Claims Life of Young Child

Date: Saturday, February 15, 2014, 11:22am

Location: 1400 Devon Drive

Event: Major vehicle crash

Crash Number: C1400610

Corpus Christi Police responded to a major vehicle crash Saturday at the 1400 block of Devon Drive in which a 6-year-old boy was run over by a truck. A 31-year-old man drove a white 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck with a 26-year-old male passenger in reverse to leave a private driveway. The 31-year-old man saw children playing near the vehicle and he warned the children the truck was going to move. The 31-year-old man backed the truck and felt the front passenger side wheel run over something. The men discovered one of the children who had been playing, a six-year-old boy, fell under the truck and was run over. The six-year-old boy was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but did not survive his injuries.

Corpus Christi Police Officers impounded the truck while the investigation continues for this event. No criminal charges or traffic citations have been applied.

Traffic Safety Division

Traffic Fatality on SH 358

Officers responded to an accident with a pedestrian on SH 358 WB (SPID) @ Moravian at 6:37 p.m. All three lanes of the westbound side of the freeway were closed off.

Witnesses informed Officers that a 37-year-old male ran from the McDonald’s at Kostoryz and SPID onto the freeway. He ran northbound across SH 358 EB, jumped the jersey barrier and continued on. He was struck in the left westbound lane by a Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by a 31-year-old male.

The 37-year-old pedestrian died at the scene. Neither the driver of the pickup, nor the passenger, were injured. The driver was not cited. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

The freeway was reopened around 10:00 p.m.

Crash number: C1400605

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

CCPD and DPS Inter-Agency Stop Aggressive Driving Campaign

The Corpus Christi Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety will be teaming up in an effort to keep the interstate and highways safe for the motoring public. The safety of all citizens on our roadways is paramount to the mission of the CCPD and DPS. As a result, both agencies will be conducting a joint operation in an effort to Stop Aggressive Driving (SAD).

Officers and Troopers will be working together to conduct speed compliance checks. Drivers found to be driving in an aggressive or illegal manner will be cited. A person who is found to be driving 20 mph or more over the speed limit or making unsafe lane changes will be considered an aggressive driver.

Officers and Troopers will focus on State Highway 181, State Highway 358 (S.P.I.D) and IH-37 for this campaign. This S.A.D. campaign will last a few days. Other joint campaigns will be planned throughout the year.

Slow down, buckle up and drive safe!

Captain Mark Gutierrez (CCPD) and Corporal Charlie Ramirez (DPS) will be available for the media on Wednesday, Feb 5th, 10:30 a.m. at the Texas Department of Public Safety Main Building.

Adam District, Traffic Safety Division

Pedestrian Accident on Clarkwood

Date:  January 20,  2014, 11:07pm
Location:  700 S. Clarkwood Road http://goo.gl/maps/n1S25
Event:  Motor Vehicle Accident with a Pedestrian
Case Number:  C1400292

Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. When officers arrived they contacted the 18-year-old driver. The driver was traveling north on 700 S. Clarkwood Rd, in a 2003 Ford Explorer, when he saw a subject in the roadway. The driver took evasive action but struck the pedestrian.

Corpus Christi Fire Department Medics arrived and treated the pedestrian on the scene. The Medical Examiner’s Officer arrived and pronounced the unidentified subject, but was believed to be in his early 20’s, dead. The driver of the vehicle was not injured in the crash.

Alcohol was not a factor in this accident. Police are still investigating the accident and will attempt to reconstruct the scene in the next few days.

The driver was not cited and was released at the scene.

Bravo District, Traffic Safety Division

Mustang Crashes Into School Bus

Date: Friday, January 10, 2014, 7:58am

Location: Alameda Street at Airline Road

Event: Vehicle Crash

Crash Number: C1400132

Corpus Christi Police responded to a major vehicle crash which involved a school bus Friday morning at the intersection of Alameda Street and Airline Road. Witnesses told Crash Investigators that a black Ford Mustang traveled south on Airline at a high rate of speed, went through the red light, and struck a school bus in the intersection. Witnesses told Officers the school bus had the green light to turn left from Alameda to travel south on Airline when the bus was hit. The 63-year-old woman school bus driver for the Corpus Christi Independent School District was not injured in the crash. The man in the Mustang was taken to the hospital by ambulance. There were no other passengers in either vehicle.