A woman in Texas has been arrested after she plowed through an active accident scene and drove over the body of a man who had previously been hit by two other vehicles.
Tionne Spears has been accused of driving while intoxicated, abuse of a corpse and possession of a controlled substance.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar confirmed that the incident took place on the night of Friday, February 27, on State Highway 211 near Lambada Drive in San Antonio, according to KSAT.
Salazar said that a 61-year-old man was walking across the street when he was clipped by a side mirror, which forced him to the ground. Another driver ran the man over when they didn’t have time to stop, which ultimately killed him.
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Deputies do not believe that either of the first two drivers did anything wrong amid the incident and they have not been charged in connection to the man’s death.
After the man was hit, police officers blocked off the area and covered the body. They then launched an investigation into the crash when a third driver, who was later identified as Spears, crashed through the crime scene and ran over the man’s body.
Salazar added that Spears, 26, narrowly avoided deputies as she recklessly drove through the blocked off area.
Spears was ultimately taken into custody and charged.
Salazar said that deputies believe she was under the influence of khat, which the United States Drug Enforcement Administration describes as “a flowering evergreen shrub that is abused for its stimulant-like effect.” Khat is native to Africa and has two active ingredients, cathine and cathinone.
The police officer also noted that khat has gained notoriety after the substance was featured in the 2001 movie Black Hawk Down, in which it was used by men attacking U.S. troops.
Those who consume khat can experience side effects including “grandiose delusions, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations and hyperactivity.” Those who chronically abuse khat can experience suicidal depression. Additionally, khat causes an immediate increase in blood pressure, heart rate and physical exhaustion.
“Thankfully our investigators were not hurt,” Salazar said of the incident. “But again, it’s unfortunate that this poor victim, who’d already been through a lot obviously, had his body run over as a result of this lady’s level of intoxication and her unawareness of where she was.”
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While speaking to reporters, Salazar said that Spears’ crime was unlike anything he’s experienced in his professional career. “I’ve been doing this job 33 years now and never heard of somebody barreling through a crime scene like that and running over a dead body that’s already on the roadway,” he said.
Spears was booked into Bexar County Jail and released after posting a $14,100 bond. She is next scheduled to appear in court on the charges on March 30.
It is not currently clear if Spears has retained legal representation or entered a plea following her arrest.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
