Man drives through construction zone injuring woman and three kids
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - A 25-year-old man drove through a construction zone and a condominium complex's fence Thursday night, injuring a woman and three young children, before his car stopped just short of plunging into a swimming pool, authorities said.
Maricela Villanueva, 54, of Mexico, and three children, ages 8, 6 and 2, were all treated for minor injuries, Assistant Police Chief Javier Garza said. All four were released from local hospitals. The 8-year-old and the 2-year-old are brothers from Brownsville, Garza said.
No further information was available on the 6-year-old.
Joshua Aaron Madill of Canyon Lake, Texas, has been charged with vehicular assault and driving under the influence of alcohol, South Padre Island public information officer Gary Ainsworth said. His bail was set at $41,000.
The accident occurred around 8:45 p.m., Ainsworth said. Madill reportedly lost control of a large, black pickup, drove through a construction zone and nearly drove over the edge of a pool at the Gulfview One condominiums, according to officials.
"I don't think it would be accurate to say all four were struck by the truck," Garza said. "I think debris from the fence may have caused the injuries."
Three of the victims were treated at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen and the fourth was treated at VBMC in Brownsville, officials said.
Because the children are under age, their names will not be released, Garza said.
Police cannot release the results of the sobriety tests until the case goes through the District Attorney's Office, Garza said.
Madill was in the process of posting bond Friday afternoon.
