Teen Turns Himself Into Police, Charged With Intoxication Assault
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Anthony Sanchez, 17, turned himself in today on a charge of intoxication assault.
"It goes through my head that I could have died… that we all could have died," said Sanchez from the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
Uninsured without a driver's license, police said Sanchez was drinking beer and smoking marijuana behind the wheel the December night he blew through a stop sign in Oak Cliff. His car allegedly collided with a family of four, injuring the father and his 7-year-old son.
Sanchez was charged initially with only a DWI misdemeanor. He was arrested in January and released the same day.
The teenager reached out CBS 11 News after a story aired showing an exclusive interview with his alleged victims. He disputed the accusation that he was drunk.
"I wasn't drinking a lot. I only had one beer," said Sanchez.
A breathalyzer showed his blood alcohol level was .057; consistent with drinking two beers in an hour.
Officers said they smelled marijuana, although Sanchez denied smoking any. He also denied trying to flee the scene.
"I was unconscious. I didn't get out of the car. They pulled me out," said Sanchez.
Sanchez's mother said police warned her that contacting victims may be considered harassment, but she had a message for them nonetheless.
"He's a good kid, with a big heart, that wondered, cried, asked… about how their family was. He has made changes in himself because of it."
Sanchez said he has learned his lesson from the ordeal.
"I don't want to see another family miserable because of me. I don't want to see my family miserable because I'm not here - or behind bars," he said.
One of the victims of the crash, Allison Pena, said Sanchez made a huge mistake that injured people. His family has to deal with it, according to Pena, and unfortunately so does hers.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
