Recently, 27-year-old Judith Dee Hodges was arrested after an accident that left two North Richland Hills officers with minor injuries. Hodges was charged with possession of dangerous drugs and driving while intoxicated.
According to news reports, the crash took place near the Hurst city limits, in the northbound lanes of the 1200 block of Northeast Loop 820. Hodges was allegedly driving north on the loop when her vehicle crashed into the back of one officer’s patrol car, then clipped another patrol car according to Keith Bauman, a North Richland Hills investigator.
The two police officers involved in the crash were Officer Oscar Saenz and Sgt. Todd Hanson; they were treated and released at local area hospitals with only minor injuries. Investigator Bauman said that Saenz and Hanson were in marked police vehicles when the accident occurred. Hurst, Richland Hills and North Richland Hills and Watauga emergency crews assisted at the scene of the accident.
Hodges was arrested at the scene, but information regarding the type of drugs seized after the accident was not released at the time of news reports. Hodges was transported to the North Richland Hills Detention Center in lieu of $2,000 bail.
While Hodges will likely face substantial penalties if convicted for DWI and drug possession, the circumstances could have been far worse. If the police officers involved had suffered serious injuries or even lost their lives, Hodges may have been the defendant in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. When individuals are seriously injured because of a negligent, intoxicated or otherwise careless motorists, they are entitled to compensation of costs associated with their injuries which may include not only medical costs, but lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in an accident caused by a drunk, reckless or distracted driver, contact the Dallas personal injury lawyers at Lovins | Trosclair, PLLC today for unsurpassed legal guidance and representation.