TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas – A Marble Falls man has been charged with intoxication assault after deputies say he crashed into a vehicle Sunday night with a mother and two children inside.
The arrest affidavit for Ruben Mendez, 26, states deputies were informed of a reckless driver heading westbound on Texas 71 around 9:20 p.m. Nov. 26. While deputies were responding to the area of SH 71 and Hamilton Pool Road in Bee Cave, dispatch was informed of an injury crash in the same area involving two vehicles. The mother and one of her children were taken to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, while the other child was flown to a hospital. According to the affidavit, the child who was airlifted required surgery to remove part of their intestine. The conditions of the mother and two children have not been released.
The affidavit states deputies found an empty bottle of beer, broken glass consistent with a second bottle of beer and an unopened can of beer in Mendez’s vehicle. A paramedic told deputies that when they arrived on scene, Mendez was holding a beer in his hand and smelled of alcohol.
The mother of the children said she was traveling eastbound on SH 71 when she saw Mendez’s vehicle fishtailing in the eastbound lane before the crash. Deputies said in the affidavit they spoke with Mendez, and that he admitted to drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
Deputies noted no field sobriety test was conducted due to Mendez’s injuries, but a blood test was administered. His affidavit did not list the results of the blood test.
Mendez’s bond has been set at $75,000. No booking photo is available as of 1 p.m. Monday.
