Driver charged with drunk driving in accident that injured DPS trooper
WEBSTER, TX (KTRK) -- The blood-alcohol content of a woman accused of causing a crash that seriously injured a DPS Trooper was more than three times the legal limit, according to court records.
Tuwanna Moore, 31, faced a judge Monday night. Her feet tapped as she waited her turn.
Moore is charged with intoxication assault and causing serious bodily injury to an officer. Investigators say she is responsible for a crash that injured DPS Trooper Chad Blackburn.
"The preliminary tox (toxicology) screen that was taken was .29," a court officer read. "She admitted to the filing officer she consumed tequila. She also admitted to driving."
According to DPS officials, Blackburn was sitting on the shoulder of the road along I-45 near NASA Road 1, patrolling for Labor Day speeders and drunk drivers. It was around 1:45am when a red Mercedes struck the rear of his patrol car.
Investigators say Moore was behind the wheel.
"A red Mercedes-Benz was traveling at a high rate of speed tried to attempt a lane change to the right on the outside and ran into the back of the state trooper," said DPS Sgt. Richard Standifer.
Trooper Blackburn suffered serious injuries to his spine, spleen and lungs. He is hospitalized at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
Moore appeared in court Monday night with bandages on her face and arm to cover the minor injuries she suffered.
Sharon McCarter, 57, spent hours with Moore in a jail holding cell Monday. She says Moore told her cellmates she had been drinking at her best friend's wedding before she drove and didn't know what or whom she had hit.
Blackburn is married with young children and has worked for DPS for 10 years. He is currently assigned to the Webster office.
Moore's bond is set at $100,000. Her attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
