18-year-old arrested for intoxication manslaughter after crash on I-35 in Denton
DENTON, Texas - Police arrested an 18-year-old for intoxication manslaughter after a crash on I-35 in Denton early Saturday morning.
The wreck happened just after 3:15 a.m., when police said an officer saw a Dodge Charger driving southbound on I-35 with no headlights and swerving into multiple lanes.
When the officer turned on emergency lights to stop the Charger, police said the driver, later identified as Jonathan Vargas, sped up and reached speeds of more than 100 mph.
About 30 seconds later, police said Vargas crashed into the back of a sedan, pushing it off the interstate and onto the service road near Wind River Lane.
The officer went to the sedan and tried to save the rear passenger, but they were later pronounced dead.
Family members identified the victim as Douglas Gonzalez. He was sleeping in the backseat of the car when the crash happened.
The driver and front passenger in the sedan were taken to a hospital and later released.
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Police said Vargas’ Charger flipped on the interstate, and he had minor injuries.
Following an investigation, police arrested Vargas for intoxication manslaughter and evading arrest/detention with vehicle causes serious bodily injury or death.
Vargas is being held in the City of Denton Jail. His bond has not yet been set.
"It just all happened so quick," Alvaro Romero recalled.
Romero, his wife, and his brother-in-law, Gonzalez, were inside the sedan when the Charger crashed into them.
Romero and his wife were in the two front seats and Gonzalez was in the backseat.
"He was sleeping in the back right behind her on the driver’s side. His head was right where the whole accident happened," Romero said.
Gonzalez's family said he was a good person and everyone loved him. They hope his death brings awareness to the fact that no one should drink and drive.
"Young kids they think they’re Supermans, they be driving over 100 miles per hour and they’re hurting good people," Romero said. "Douglas was a great guy, I mean, like I said, I have no words for what type of person he was, he was just an amazing person."
The two recently went to El Salvador, where Gonzalez is from, to watch his favorite soccer team.
The next time Romero travels there, it will be to bury his best friend.
"He took away a father, a son, a husband, a friend, a brother, he put a big hole in our heart, a big hole," Romero added.
He wants Gonzalez’s death to be a reminder not drink and drive.
"All I can say is if you do something, you have to stick to the consequence. He probably thought he could get away from the police and it all happened so quick. He took a big part from our family," he said.