A Houston woman, 32-year-old Kristina Chambers, has been accused of driving under the influence at high speeds and causing a fatal accident.
Allegedly, Chambers was nearly four times above the legal alcohol limit. She was driving at approximately 100 mph when her Porsche struck 33-year-old Joe McMullin, who was on a first date. The impact hurled McMullin 30 feet into the air, and he later died at the scene.
The incident occurred at around 2:30 a.m. on April 19, when Chambers lost control of her blue Porsche 911 Carrera. She failed to navigate a curve, and as a result she hit a curb before striking McMullin. McMullin and his date, Briana Iturrino, had just left Voodoo Doughnut shop and were walking on the sidewalk at the time of the accident.
Iturrino, who narrowly escaped being hit herself, called 911 and attempted CPR on McMullin, but he could not be saved. Chambers and her two passengers sustained injuries in the crash and were charged with intoxication manslaughter.
Court records cited by the Houston Chronicle reveal that Chambers’ blood-alcohol content was nearly four times over the legal limit. Furthermore, investigators reportedly found traces of suspected drugs, including Adderall and cocaine, in her purse at the crash site.
Chambers has claimed that she only consumed one beer five hours before the accident, and the police are investigating whether she was over-served at the bar she had visited earlier that night.
On Wednesday, Chambers made her first appearance in court on the intoxication manslaughter charge. She entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, still wearing a sling and a cast. Her defense attorney, Mark Thiessen, argued that his client was not guilty, attributing the accident to poor road conditions. Thiessen suggested that the case should be a civil lawsuit instead of a criminal matter.
Prosecutors, however, dismissed Thiessen’s suggestion as “insulting,” emphasizing that the case was not about money. Rather, he stated that the case was about a crime committed by Chambers that resulted in the death of McMullin.
The judge ordered Chambers to be held on a $50,000 bond and prohibited her from driving unless she secures employment. Additionally, she is required to install a landline in her home to demonstrate compliance with the conditions.