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Wrong-way driver identified in fatal Harbor Bridge crash

The 35-year-old woman who police say caused the crash remains in the hospital.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The name of the driver Corpus Christi Police Department officers believe was at fault in the fatal wrong-way driver crash on the Harbor Bridge Nov. 2 is Roxanne Palacios.

Felony arrest warrants show the 35-year-old will face three charges -- two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, and intoxication assault with a vehicle with significant bodily injury.

Two people died in the crash -- San Patricio County Sheriff's Office dispatcher Betsy Mandujano and Navy veteran Mathew Banda.

Palacios remains in the hospital after that crash: CCPD would not give any information beyond that citing privacy laws.

Once she is released, she will then be arrested and booked into jail on those three felony charges.


TABC investigating local restaurant

The Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission is also looking into Railroad Seafood & Brewing Co. in relation to the crash after police alerted the TABC to the at-fault driver having possibly been at the restaurant before the accident.   

Police say alcohol was a factor in that crash.

"We were notified by Corpus Christi PD that the driver was at a business licensed by TABC prior to the accident," he said. "We took that information and began that investigation and that’s where we are right now, is working to determine if – in fact – the person was located at that business before the accident."

He said this is common in cases police suspect are alcohol-related. 

"If we are able to determine that, we need to find out if the business served anybody improperly and in a way that somehow contributed to the accident," Porter said. "As far as any specifics related to how the alcohol was served, that’s certainly one of the things that we’re looking into as TABC continues this investigation."

He said that, to his knowledge at the time of the interview, he didn't think the TABC had previously investigated the Railroad Seafood & Brewing Co. in a case that that resulted in serious injury or fatalities.  

"The investigation is in the very early stages right now," he said. "It will be an ongoing process of conducting interviews coordinated with local law-enforcement and gathering of physical evidence and things like bank records and video footage to support any case that may move forward.”

3NEWS went to the Railroad Seafood & Brewery Co. for comment, but the manager declined to comment.

Porter said any penalties the agency might assess would be administrative.

"That could look like a temporary suspension of their license to sell alcohol, or in extremely serious cases, or repeat violations, we could cancel their permit to sell alcohol altogether," he said.

However, something more serious is possible for anyone who may have overserved a customer.

"If an employee of the business was found to have violated the law in addition to any charges against the business on the administrative side, we will file a criminal case," he said. "For example, selling alcohol to an intoxicated person. Usually a misdemeanor charge against the employee."

Porter said the agency is still investigating, but reiterates that an investigation does not yet mean the restaurant has done anything wrong.

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