May 27, 2009

Corpus Christi Police continue to investigate the 7th traffic fatality of the year. It happened Friday under bizarre circumstances police say the victim was thrown from the vehicle, but her boyfriend who was also in the car fled the scene.
So far, we don't know the reason why.

Police say the one-vehicle accident was most likely caused by erratic driving and intoxication. The victim, Mary Michelle Lee Palacios died shortly after the Friday morning accident on IH-37 near the Nueces Bay exit. Police say it appears she was the driver, and 27 year old Chris Prieto was the passenger. There have been reports that the couple was arguing, and that Prieto jerked the wheel causing Michelle to wreck. Other reports claim Michelle's car had no brakes.

According to police reports, two out of the five witnesses to the accident recall a woman driver. One witness saw a male passenger pounding his fist on the car's ceiling. Another said the couple appeared to be arguing, the vehicle swerving erratically.

Wednesday, the victim's family was in Falfurrias making funeral arrangements. The victim's sister sent us pictures, and sent us this email telling us about Michelle and the decision to take off her life support.

" Thursday May 21, 2009 at 12:00 a.m. on Up River Road and Interstate 37, Mary Michelle Lee Palacios was ejected from her vehicle that witnesses say was being driven by a male who was moving around violently inside the vehicle. Mary Helen Palacios, Michelle's oldest sister, said she saw the news and immediately ran over to Michelle's apartment to find that male (Chris Prieto) asleep in the bed. He admitted to her that they were fighting and he jerked the wheel which caused the car to roll over. Michelle was taken to Memorial hospital where her family was told that she suffered from major head trauma and bodily injuries leaving her to only survive with life support machines. It was at 7:00 p.m. the next day that her husband Juan Garza and her family, after the consultation with the doctors, made the decision to take Michelle off the life support and let her rest. She left behind her husband Juan Garza and six children Ram David Delgado (14), Ramiro Joshua Delgado (12) and Mark Mills (10) all of San Antonio, TX, Tiffany Michelle Palacios (8), Jenna Renee Garza (5) and Nicolas Matthew Garza (1) all of Corpus Christi, TX. She is also survived by three sisters Mary Helen Palacios of Corpus Christi, TX, Mary Isabel Palacios and Mary Grace Martinez both of Premont, TX and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss her dearly. "