Dallas Firefighter Drinking, Speeding Before Deadly Crash: Police

DALLAS, TX — Dallas fireman Horace Shaw III was driving over 100 miles-per-hour Wednesday morning before a crash that killed a pregnant 18-year-old woman, according to the affidavit for his arrest warrant. He was charged with one count of intoxication manslaughter for the alleged drunk-driving crash.

The affidavit states a witness saw Shaw driving in his white Mercedes on Highway 67 "at what appeared to be 100 to 110 miles per hour" before his car struck Alyssa Pimentel's Mazda and ejected both her and her passenger from the car.

The affidavit states the witness saw the crash and approached the scene. He found Pimentel on the ground. Shaw got out of his Mercedes and walked to the witness, to whom he said he was a paramedic before lying down on the ground.

Another witness, who also reported seeing the Mercedes driving too fast, told police Shaw was unable to walk in a straight line after he got out of the Mercedes.

Shaw declined to talk with police at the scene, the affidavit states, but investigators found an empty flask in Shaw's Mercedes with a strong odor of alcohol. The passenger is Shaw's car, who was not identified in the affidavit, said he and Shaw had been drinking at Thibodeaux's in Dallas. He told police Shaw was "speeding a little bit." When asked if Shaw was "showing off," police reported the passenger replied, "yes."

A detective tried to interview Shaw at Charlton Methodist Hospital, but Shaw requested an attorney and would not talk. The detective reported he smelled a strong smell of alcohol on Shaw's breath and body.

Pimentel's male passenger, later identified as Isaiah Perez, was transported to a hospital nearby with a broken leg and neck. Perez told NBC 5 the couple hoped to name their child Josiah Adrian Perez.

Shaw was booked at Dallas County Jail, but has since been released on bail. He was charged with one count of Intoxication Manslaughter, but Cedar Hill police report further charges are pending and might be announced after discussion with the Dallas County District Attorney. His bail amount was not specified.

The passenger in Shaw's Mercedes was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Police did not release his identity.

Intoxication Manslaughter is a second-degree felony in Texas. CBSDFW reported Shaw has been with Dallas Fire-Rescue for 12 years.

Shaw was off-duty at the time of the crash.

Related on Patch:

• Fireman Faces Intoxication Manslaughter Charges For Deadly Crash

Image via Dallas County Jail