Category Archives: Traffic Safety Division

Bravo District, Traffic Safety Division

Vehicle Strikes Jogger On Ocean Drive Then Flees

Occurred Sunday, August 5, 2012, 2033, Ocean Drive at Poenisch Drive, Accident Involving Injury or Death 1208050122 & C1205862

A 21-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle on Ocean Drive and the vehicle that struck her left without providing any aid.

A 21-year-old woman jogged on the 6400 block of Ocean Drive and crossed the street from Swantner Park to Poenisch Drive. Witnesses told Police Officers that a light-colored, possibly tan, sport utility vehicle travelled on Ocean Drive toward Ennis Joslin Road and struck the woman jogger. Witnesses told Police Officers that the sport utility vehicle travelled a block away from the crash and slowed as if to turn around. Witnesses said the sport utility vehicle waited a moment, and then sped away toward Ennis Joslin Road.

The woman jogger was taken by ambulance to the hospital with serious injuries.

Corpus Christi Police Hit and Run Investigators recovered evidence from the scene and are now searching for a late 1990’s model GMC Suburban or Chevy Tahoe with front end damage to include a missing passenger side head light assembly. Corpus Christi Police Investigators are searching for residential surveillance recordings from the area homes that may have captured images of this crash.

Anyone with additional information about this crime should call Corpus Christi Police Hit and Run Investigators immediately. Anyone with information should not assume that investigators have the information, so the information should be shared without delay. Tips may be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Bravo District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Woman Strikes 2 Boys On The Beach With Car

Occurred Saturday, August 4, 2012, 22:50, Beach Marker 202, Intoxication Assault, 1208040152, & C1205839

Two 16-year-old boys were hospitalized with substantial but non-life threatening injuries Saturday night after a 23-year-old woman struck the boys with a car on the beach by marker 202.

Several adults told Corpus Christi Police Officers that a white Pontiac Grand Am, driven by a woman, drove into a vehicle and the two boys, then attempted to flee the scene. The adults pointed to a white Pontiac Grand Am that was stuck in the sand and said that vehicle caused the damage and the injuries.

Police Officers met the operator of the Pontiac, 23-year-old Jessica Rose Garza (10/19/1988), and her 18-year-old male passenger. Garza displayed indicators that she was intoxicated. Garza was arrested for Intoxication Assault and an Accident Causing Injury Or Death.

The two 16-year-old boys were transported to the hospital by ambulance and the Pontiac was impounded. Garza’s 18 year old passenger was released at the scene.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Drunk Driver Crashes Into Police Car Stopped To Arrest Other Drunk Driver

Occurred on 8/2/12, 01:47 am Driving While Intoxicated 5000 Holly 1208020009/0010-0014/C1205752

                A Corpus Christi Police Patrol car was struck by a vehicle on the 5000 block of Holly Road while on a traffic stop.

A Corpus Christi Police Officer initiated a traffic stop of a black 2008 BMW at the 5000 block of Holly Road. The operator of that BMW, 26-year-old Alex Hernandez (9/12/1985) was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The 26-year-old passenger of the BMW, Francisco Leal (10/10/1985) was arrested for public intoxication.

Leal and Hernandez were transported to the city detention center. Another Corpus Christi Police Officer stayed with the BMW to wait for the tow truck to collect the BMW to take to the city impound lot.

A black 2006 Dodge Charger operated by 31-year-old Guadalupe Maravilla (8/9/1980) crashed into the police patrol car and the BMW. The police officer and Maravilla were not injured in the crash. Maravilla was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation and then delivered to the city detention center for driving while intoxicated.

The Corpus Christi Police Department reminds motorists that the Texas Transportation Code section 545.157 requires drivers in Texas to slow down or move over when they see the flashing lights of a stopped emergency vehicle. Unless otherwise directed by a police officer, you must vacate the lane closest to the vehicle or slow down to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit in hopes of reducing the number of crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

Bus Strikes Police Officer On Motorcycle

Occurred Monday, July 30, 2012, 10:43am 4500 State Highway 286 Access northbound, Vehicle Crash C1205689

A police officer on a police motor cycle was stopped at a red light when he was struck from behind by a bus on the Cross-town Expressway access road Monday morning.

The police officer is recovering from minor injuries such as a few abrasions and a swollen ankle. The officer was off-duty having completed morning duty and was in uniform on a marked police motorcycle.

The police officer was on the access road for the Cross-town Expressway in the northbound lanes at the intersection of Gollihar and stopped for the red light. The Regional Transit Authority bus saw the light turn green and moved forward and struck the motorcycle from behind. The officer was knocked to the ground and suffered minor injuries.

No other person was harmed. The bus had two passengers on board who were not injured. The 40-year-old woman operator of the bus was cited for an Unsafe Start From A Parked Position which is a violation of the Texas Transportation Code section 545.402.

The officer was transported to the hospital by ambulance for his minor injuries and the motorcycle was towed as a result of the damages.

The Texas Department of Transportation has a motorcycle safety campaign called Share the Road in which motorists are urged to look twice for motorcyclists. Be careful when changing lanes, and at intersections which, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, are the two places where serious motorcycle collisions commonly occur.

Visit http://www.dot.state.tx.us/safety/tips/moto_campaign.htm for more information about the Texas Department of Transportation safety campaign.

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

Speed a Factor in Fatal Accident

Occurred on 7/27/12, 11:39 pm Major Accident   4300 Ayers Street   C1205646

Officers responded to a one vehicle accident in the 4300 block of Ayers Street which fatally injured a 38-year-old man.

Further investigation revealed the black 2004 Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck was traveling southbound on Ayers at a high rate of speed as it approached the intersection of Ayers Street and S. Port Avenue.  The Tacoma left the roadway and drove up on the median striking a traffic control box.

The driver was rushed to Spohn Memorial, but did not survive his fatal injuries.  The accident remains under investigation.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Crash Spills Gravel on Freeway, Disrupts Lunchtime Traffic

Occurred Friday, June 29, 2012, 11:10am, 1600 block of SH 358 WB over Greenwood, vehicle crash C1204965

A 56 year old man was taken to the hospital for non-incapacitating injuries after a single vehicle crash that closed off much of the westbound freeway over Greenwood and disrupted lunch time traffic.

A street department dump truck rolled on the freeway and spilled 7 yards of gravel. The operator of the truck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. City crews patched damage to the asphalt caused by the crash. The Texas Department of Transportation assisted to clean the gravel from the road with a vacuum sweeper. The crash closed a portion of the freeway to one lane for 3 hours.

The operator of the dump truck was cited for changed lanes when unsafe.

Community Outreach, Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Enhanced Parking Initative Begins

The Corpus Christi Police Department is announcing the beginning of the enhanced parking enforcement initiative.  The goal of the initiative is to address often overlooked “quality of life” issues such as public sidewalks being blocked by vehicles, and other parking violations throughout the city. The initial phase of the initiative will focus on public education about parking laws and the importance of ensuring that roadways and sidewalks are open and accessible to vehicles, pedestrians, and emergency equipment. Officers will immediately begin issuing warning cards to vehicles parked in an improper manner.

The next phase will begin August 1st and will focus on actual enforcement of existing parking laws and ordinances.  Police and Parking Control officers will be issuing citations to vehicles parked in a manner that is a violation or hazard.

Questions should be directed to Parking Control at 361-826-3003.

Bravo District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Man Drives Into House Then Arrested

Occurred Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 23:40, Possession of a controlled substance 1206210002, C1204721

A 31-year-old man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance Wednesday night after he crashed his maroon 2002 Honda Accord into a house at McArdle Street and Arnold Drive.

Corpus Christi Police investigated a vehicle crash after a Honda Accord travelled east on McArdle, unsuccessfully attempted to turn left on Arnold, crossed the westbound lanes of travel, and then struck a corner house. There was substantial damage to the house, but no person was injured.

The operator of the Honda, 31-year-old John Newman (4/5/1981) paced the scene as Police patrol officers arrived to investigate the crash. Newman received traffic citations for making an unsafe change from a direct course, having expired vehicle registration, and for not having vehicle insurance.

Police discovered illegal narcotics with Newman, so Newman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance from the penalty group 3. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Man Yells At People And Lands Himself In Jail

Occurred Tuesday, June 19, 2012, 2:17am 6410 Weber Rd. Driving While Intoxicated 1206190010

A 23-year-old man was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated after he attracted the attention of Police for annoying people leaving a nightclub.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a complaint at McCaws Nightclub of a disturbance caused by a man in a maroon 2006 Lincoln Zephyr that yelled at people who passed him in the parking lot. Corpus Christi Police patrol officers arrived and located the car in the parking lot at the entrance to the night club. The officers then met the operator of the car, 23-year-old George Trevino Jr. (9/26/1988). The officers concluded that Trevino was intoxicated, and operated a motor vehicle in a public place, so the officers arrested Trevino for Driving While Intoxicated.

Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Man Drove 70 MPH Wrong Way Over Harbor Bridge & Goes To Jail

Occurred Monday, June 18, 2012 1:40am State Highway 181 Freeway Harbor Bridge Driving While Intoxicated 1206180011

A 27-year-old man was arrested for driving while intoxicated Monday morning when he was found travelling 70 miles per hour in the wrong direction over the Harbor Bridge.

A Corpus Christi Police patrol supervisor saw a white 2002 Ford Ranger travel north toward Portland in the southbound lanes. The patrol supervisor drove in the correct lanes of travel next to the truck at 70 miles per hour. The patrol supervisor activated his emergency lights and was able to gain the attention of the operator of the truck that travelled the wrong direction. The truck pulled to the center divider and stopped to meet the patrol supervisor.

The patrol supervisor concluded that 27-year-old Casey Landry (9/2/1984) was intoxicated. Landry was arrested for driving while intoxicated and delivered to the city detention center.