Bastrop, TX — An employee of the Smithville Times, which is owned by the Austin American-Statesman, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in an accident that took place in Bastrop, Texas, on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. The accident took place at the intersection of Highway 71 and FM 1209.
Suzanne Hodgson was driving a Toyota SUV along Highway 71 when she crashed into a truck being driven by Lorenzo Ruiz. The collision pushed Ruiz’s vehicle into the back of a semi-truck, causing it and Hodgson’s vehicle to burst into flames.
Ruiz was killed in the accident. A passenger in his truck was taken with non-life-threatening injuries to University Medical Center Brackenridge. Hodgson was also taken to Brackenridge.
Hodgson claimed that she was not the one driving her SUV at the time of the accident, despite police officers finding no one else inside the vehicle. Hodgson told police that earlier that day, she had consumed two beers. Despite the results of a blood test not yet being available, emergency workers responding to the scene told state troopers they smelled alcohol on Hodgson, and a doctor performing on eye test found evidence that she was intoxicated.
The accident is currently being investigated.
Scene of the Accident
*We appreciate your feedback and welcome anyone to comment on our blog entries, however all visitor blog comments must be approved by the site moderator prior to showing live on the site. By submitting a blog comment you acknowledge that your post may appear live on the site for any visitors to see, pending moderator approval. The operators of this site are not responsible for the accuracy or content of the comments made by site visitors. By submitting a comment, blog post, or email to this site you acknowledge that you may receive a response with regard to your questions or concerns. If you contact Grossman Law Offices using this online form, your message will not create an attorney-client relationship and will not necessarily be treated as privileged or confidential! You should not send sensitive or confidential information via the Internet. Since the Internet is not necessarily a secure environment, it is not possible to ensure that your message sent via the Internet might be kept secure and confidential. When you fill out a contact or comment form, send us an email directly, initiate a chat session or call us, you acknowledge we may use your contact information to communicate with you in the future for marketing purposes, but such marketing will always be done consistent with the advertising ethics rules established by the State Bar of Texas and you will have the option to opt out of future communications.
