Audi SUV driver who caused a fatal crash that sent a semi-truck off an overpass onto State Highway 130 on Monday has been arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated with two child passengers (ages 9 & 5). Video from the 18-wheeler shows Washington's Audi failing to yield the right of way.
>WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — The driver of an Audi SUV involved in a fatal crash that sent a semi-truck off an overpass onto State Highway 130 on Monday has been arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
>Rayford Washington, 38, was booked into the Williamson County Jail following the Monday crash, which killed semi-truck driver Eric Fields, 59, according to DPS.
>Washington faces one count of driving while intoxicated with a child under 15, a state jail felony. According to online jail records, Washington is being held on a $50,000 bond.
>The crash occurred around 12:51 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Chandler Road and the SH 130 frontage road in Williamson County, DPS said. A preliminary investigation found that Washington's westbound Audi attempted to turn left onto the southbound SH 130 frontage road and collided with an eastbound semi-truck towing a trailer.
>The impact caused the semi-truck to strike the bridge barrier and go off the overpass, landing on the main lanes of southbound SH 130, according to DPS. Fields was pronounced dead at the scene.
>Washington and two child passengers, ages 9 and 5, who were riding in the Audi, were transported to an area hospital to be evaluated for possible minor injuries, DPS said.
>According to an arrest affidavit, a state trooper was sent to Ascension Seton Williamson County Hospital to interview Washington after the crash. The trooper wrote that he detected an odor of alcohol on Washington's breath and noted his eyes appeared glassy and watery. Washington told the trooper he had a green light and did not see the semi-truck before the crash, according to the affidavit.
>The affidavit states Washington initially denied drinking earlier in the day but said he had consumed alcohol the previous night, describing it as "one beer." Investigators noted an empty 50-milliliter bottle of Jim Beam Honey whiskey was found on the driver's side floorboard, though Washington said someone else had consumed it the night before, the affidavit says.
>Washington agreed to a preliminary breath test, which returned a result of 0.105, above the legal limit of 0.08, according to the affidavit.
>Detectives were also able to obtain video from the 18-wheeler showing the collision, the affidavit said. The video shows Washington's Audi failed to yield the right of way.
