Child Dead, Man Charged With DWI After Northeast Austin Crash

AUSTIN, TX — A man has been charged with driving while intoxicated after a two-vehicle crash that left a child dead in the northeastern part of the city, police said on Tuesday.

The incident dates to March 30 just before 9:20 p.m. along the 5500 block of East Parmer Lane. That's where the driver of a silver, 2009 Hummer H3 was travling south over the eastbound lanes of the street when she failed to yield to a gray, 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML3, police said in a press advisory. The Mercedes-Benz struck the passenger's side of the Hummer in the process, police added.

Two child passengers riding in the Hummer were transported to Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas for treatment of their injuries, according to police. One of the children, Daminik Lopez, 9, died from her injuries on April 4, police said. The other child underwent emergency surgery for critical injuries, according to the police account.

The driver of the ML3, Cain Perez Estrada, 34, was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, according to police. After being discharged, he was arrested for DWI which police believe was a contributing factor in the crash.

The incident marked the 24th fatal traffic crash in Austin so far this year, police said, resulting in 25 fatalities. At this point last year, there were 17 traffic crashes.