Category Archives: Traffic Safety Division

Traffic Safety Division

21 Crashes In 8 Hours

The Corpus Christi Police Department investigated 21 vehicle crashes in 8 hours Friday from 7:00am until 3:00pm. This is a holiday weekend and there will be many travelers on the road. The Corpus Christi Police Department reminds everyone on the road to travel safely and follow a few simple tips:

  • Wear a seat belt
  • Use approved child safety restraints properly
  • Be patient and obey speed limits
  • Avoid in-car distractions
  • Don’t tailgate
  • And PLEASE do not drink and drive

The Police Department wants everyone to get to their destination safely.

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

26 Year Old Man Seriously Injured After A Vehicle Crash On Weber

Occurred March 5, 2012, 2:33am Weber at McArdle, Intoxication Assault 1204050018

A 26-year-old man was hospitalized as a result of a crash at the intersection of Weber and McArdle Thursday morning.

A Corpus Christi Police Officer saw a silver 2011 Chevy Malibu travel north on Weber from Holly at a high rate of speed. The officer was outside of the patrol car when his attention was attracted to the Malibu because the horn sounded, and the tires squealed. The officer attempted to catch up to the Malibu and saw the Malibu attempt to turn left to travel west on McArdle, and the Malibu crashed.

The 26-year-old operator of the Malibu did not wear a seat belt and was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. A 26-year-old passenger in the Malibu did wear a seat belt and was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries as a result of the crash.

An offense report was generated for intoxication assault because the passenger was injured as a result of the crash and Corpus Christi Police collected evidence that this was an alcohol related event. Intoxication Assault is a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Traffic Safety Division

Several Arrested Over The Weekend For Driving While Intoxicated

Occurred Friday, March 30, 2012, Driving While Intoxicated 4000 Kevin Dr. 1203300136

A 44-year-old man was arrested for driving while intoxicated Friday night at the 4000 block of Kerry Drive.

The Corpus Christi Police were called to the area of Weber and Saratoga at 9:45pm by citizen’s complaints of an intoxicated driver that operated a gray Ford F-150 truck.  A Patrol officer located a gray 2002 Ford F-150 with the same license plate characters as from the citizen’s complaints.

The Patrol officer initiated a traffic stop and contacted the only occupant of the truck, Cornelius Gallegos (8/6/1970). The Patrol officer identified clues that Gallegos was intoxicated while he operated his vehicle on a public roadway. Gallegos was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

The Corpus Christi Police completed 12 Driving While Intoxicated arrests and one Driving Under The Influence arrest over the past weekend from March 30 until April 1. There were 9 arrests for a first offense of Driving While Intoxicated, 1 arrest for a 2nd Offense of Driving While Intoxicated (the person was once previously convicted of Driving While Intoxicated), 1 arrest for a 3rd offense of Driving While Intoxicated (the person was previously convicted at least twice for prior D.W.I.), and 1 arrest for Driving While Intoxicated with a child passenger.

There was also 1 arrest for Driving Under The Influence which is a person less than the age of 21 with any detectable amount of alcoholic beverages that operates a vehicle on a public roadway.

Delta District, Traffic Safety Division

Officer On A Motorcycle Involved In A Crash

Occurred Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:06am Police Motorcycle Crash C1202311

Senior Officer B. Browning, while on duty and on a motorcycle, was involved in a vehicle crash at the 400 block of South Carancahua Street Wednesday morning.

The Enduro Unit traveled to the left side of a tan Chevy Trail Blazer. The Trail Blazer changed direction into the lane the officer traveled which caused the officer to lose balance and fall to the ground. The officer struck his helmet on the pavement.

The operator of the Trail Blazer stopped the vehicle and helped the officer momentarily until other officers arrived. The woman in the Trail Blazer then left the scene, but returned when she learned she was involved in the crash. Investigators believe there was no contact between the vehicles and the woman was not aware that she was involved in the crash when she left the scene.

Witnesses to the crash told police that the woman may have been talking on her cell phone when the unsafe lane change was conducted. The woman in the Trail Blazer was cited for the crash.

The officer on the motorcycle was transported to Spohn Memorial Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Corpus Christi Police warn motorists to watch for all vehicles, especially smaller vehicles like motorcycles and bicycles, when traveling on the roadway. Police warn to check all blind spots and carefully pay attention to all who share the road.

Corpus Christi Police also warn that use of the cell phone while operating a vehicle may be a distraction. The use of a hands free device is the best option if a phone call is necessary while operating a vehicle.

Adam District, Traffic Safety Division

12 Apprehended After Suburban Evades From Police

Occurred March 25, 2012 9:20pm  IH 37   Bailout  1203250145

Twelve individuals were apprehended by Corpus Christi Police after a vehicle chase that started on Interstate Highway 37 Sunday night.

A Corpus Christi Police Officer saw a white 1996 Chevy Suburban travel north on the 3900 block of Interstate Highway 37 and change lanes without the use of a turn signal. The officer then saw the suburban travel in the center of the roadway and straddle the center stripes which did not allow other vehicles to pass. Once closer to the vehicle, the officer also observed a safety violation which prompted the officer to initiate a traffic stop.

The suburban fled from the officer and other officers successfully employed a tire deflation system to cause the suburban to stop. Twelve individuals ran from the suburban. All twelve of the individuals were captured by law enforcement.

Eleven of the individuals from the suburban were transferred to the custody of U.S. Border Patrol. The 44-year-old driver of the suburban, Paul Benavides (9/14/1967) was taken to the city detention center by the Corpus Christi Police for evading in a vehicle.

Delta District, Traffic Safety Division

Arrest Made In Hit And Run Fatality on BrownLee Blvd.

Occurred February 16, 2012 Fatality Hit and Run Case # 1202160148 & C1201201 –Update

Corpus Christi Police Investigators have identified the person responsible for the hit and run crash that resulted in the death of 40-year-old Rudy Garcia.

Rudy Garcia rode a bicycle on the 200 block of BrownLee Boulevard on Thursday, February 16, 2012. Garcia was struck from behind by a truck and Garcia did not survive the crash.

Corpus Christi investigators collected evidence from the crime scene and used trace analysis to identify clues. The investigators identified specific parts of a vehicle damaged in the crash and then called vendors that sold those specific parts. More information from the public was collected by investigators and a suspect was identified.

Corpus Christi Police obtained a warrant for arrest for Antonio Alamo (6/2/1973) on Friday, March 23, 2012. Alamo was arrested and has a $100,000 bond for an Accident Involving Personal Injury Or Death.

The Texas Transportation Code section 550.021 provides the requirements for this type of event. The code states the operator of a vehicle involved in a accident that results in the inury or death of a person shall stop and report the crash to emergency responders. Failure to report the crash which results in a death is a third degree felony which is punishable by up to 10 years inprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

City Opens New Vehicle Impound Lot

The City of Corpus Christi opened the new vehicle impound lot Monday, March 5, 2012. The new impound lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive was funded by Proposition 3 of the November 2008 city bond election at a cost of 2.7 million dollars. The impound lot features 11 paved acres of land, overhead lighting, access gate, a 2,000 square foot administration building and a vehicle inspection and drop off canopy. The new site has 6 paved acres for a vehicle storage lot, 4 paved acres for an auction lot and 5 acres outside of the existing facility to allow for expansion.

The new impound lot replaces the old impound lot and solves several problems experienced at the previous location. The 5 acre lot on the 2600 block of Holly Road experienced overcrowding, poor drainage and had no room for expansion. The lot on Holly Road opened in 1987 and had 3 additions before it closed operation on March 5, 2012. The location on Holly will be retained by the city to store specialty vehicles and equipment until the new Public Safety Warehouse opens in July 2013.

The employees and the vehicles have moved to the new site from the Holly location. Two additional employees were hired and one wrecker was purchased as a result of the monthly auctions that began March 2011.

The City Impound lot accepted 6,579 vehicles in 2011 for an average of 548 vehicles per month. The City Impound lot accepted 5,857 vehicles in 2010 for an average of 488 vehicles per month. The City Impound lot accepted 1,243 vehicles in 2012 as of March 8, 2012 for an average of 621 vehicles per month.

The site for the new impound lot was the former Hala Pit landfill which was in operation from 1965 until 1971. The site was undeveloped since 1971 until this project was selected for the use of this land.

Environmental studies and safety evaluations delayed the completion of the project and was no additional financial cost. The safety of the environment, employees, and the public is the highest priority that was not compromised in the construction of this project.

The new impound facility serves the purpose to enhance public safety and neighborhood improvement. This area will be the collection point for the uninsured and abandoned vehicles the patrol officers remove as hazards from our city roadways. The facility is open every hour of the day and every day of the year. The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to thank the citizens of Corpus Christi for providing the resources needed to serve this community.

Delta District, Traffic Safety Division

Fatal Accident

Occurred 2/24/12 at 4:48 PM     200 Louisiana     C1201406

Officers responded to a medical trauma call at a residence in the 200 block of Louisiana on Friday evening at about 4:48 PM.  At the home they discovered a 15-month-old male child who had been run over in the driveway of the home. 

The incident happened as a 52-year-old man was backing out of the driveway in a 2011 white Dodge Pick-Up.  There was a 53-year-old female in the vehicle also.

The child was rushed by ambulance to Driscoll Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 5:50 PM.

The tragic incident appears accidental.  No charges have been filed and there are no plans to file charges against anyone reference this incident.

Any updates to this incident will be released by the Corpus Christi Police Department PIO at www.ccpdblotter.com.

Adam District, Traffic Safety Division

Prison Bus Crash on IH 37

Occurred on February 21, 2012  9:48am Vehicle Crash    9600 Interstate Highway 37         C1201329

Seven people were taken to the hospital as the result of a four vehicle crash that involved a bus that carried prisoners on the controlled access freeway of Interstate Highway 37 Tuesday morning. The bus was in transit from the Nueces County Jail enroute to Beeville when the front of the bus collided with three other passenger cars. There was road construction ahead which reduced the lanes of travel causing the traffic to slow when the bus struck the three other vehicles.

Two people from passenger cars were taken by ambulance immediately with non-life threatening injuries. The thirty one inmates of the Texas Department of Corrections were all individually evaluated by medics at the scene as they were loaded onto a second bus to take them to their destination. Three guards and two inmates from the prison transport bus were taken to the hospital for precautionary treatment. The remainder of the inmates were taken to Beeville and evaluated a second time for any injuries.

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

Officer injured after being struck by tire

On Monday evening, 2/13/12, at about 6:48PM, Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a traffic accident in the 5000 block of SH 358 (SPID) east bound between Everhart and Staples (C1201106). The vehicles involved in the accident were pulled over on the right shoulder of the highway.

At about 7:02PM, while working the accident, a police Officer on the passenger side of one of the vehicles was struck from behind by a tire. The tire knocked the Officer into the car he was standing next to. Although there were other Officers at the scene, and witnesses in the original vehicle, no one saw where the tire came from. It is possible the tire came off a trailer or out of a truck bed and the driver had no knowledge of the tire loss. It is also unknown if the tire came from a vehicle on the highway or the access road. The tire did not come off of either of the cars involved in the first accident.

The 29-year-old male Officer, is believed to have sustained a broken leg. He was taken to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital by ambulance. A 20-year-old male, who had stepped from one of the vehicles involved in the first crash, was ‘brushed’ by the tire before it struck the Officer. He was treated and released by Medics at the scene.

CCPD Traffic investigators were called to the scene to investigate the second accident (C1201109).  The highway and the access road were both closed during the investigation. The highway was re-opened at 9:11PM.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to speak to anyone who may know where the tire came from. If you have information about this accident please call the Police Department at 886-2600, or you can call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS if you wish to remain anonymous.

Any additional information about this accident will be released by the CCPD PIO Office at www.ccpdblotter.com.