FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – A 31-year-old Richmond man was convicted on Thursday of driving while intoxicated, two years after he crashed into an off-duty officer while driving the wrong way on Highway 90, according to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office.
Jacob Daniel Flores was sentenced to 18 months of probation, a $1,000 fine, 64 hours of community service and a DWI education class. In addition, on Tuesday he must attend a victim impact panel in which offenders hear from DWI victims who survived to tell their stories.
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Flores was driving the wrong way on Highway 90 near the Valero gas station just east of the Brazos River when he crashed into an off-duty police officer who was on his way to work, according to Assistant District Attorney Santos Hinojosa.
“I would like to thank the Richmond Police Department for removing this intoxicated, dangerous driver from our roads,” said Hinojosa. “And also the jury for holding Flores accountable with their verdict of guilty. Justice prevailed.”
When Richmond officers arrived at the scene, they noticed Flores' slurred speech, red glassy eyes and the smell of alcohol, according to authorities.
Officers said he was belligerent, yelled at officers and had trouble maintaining his balance.
Flores refused an intoxication evaluation at the scene and was eventually taken to the hospital, police said.
Officers said Flores repeatedly apologized, and told officers he had been fired from his job, was possibly getting a divorce and had too much on his mind, according to reports.
Flores did not have insurance and was driving without a valid driver's license, reports said.