Cesar Efrain Viramontes-Cocolon, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the crash that killed Maria Hernandez, 58.
TYLER, Texas — An East Texas man was sentenced to 17 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to driving drunk on and causing the death of a Tyler woman.
Cesar Efrain Viramontes-Cocolon, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the crash that killed Maria Hernandez, 58, of Tyler, in August 2024 at the intersection of Hwy 31. E. and FM 2908 in Smith County.
Viramontes-Cocolon was then sentenced to 17 years in prison based on the plea agreement. Judge Debby Gunter said he would receive credit for any time served.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Adam Albritton, Viramontes-Cocolon was driving a pickup truck westbound on Highway 31 while an SUV driver, who was later identified as Hernandez, was going eastbound and a Brookshire’s 18-wheeler was moving east as well.
DPS said Viramontes-Cocolon struck the SUV head-on while driving on the wrong side of the road. The 18-wheeler tried to avoid the SUV but could not. Hernandez was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
During an interview at the hospital, Viramontes-Cocolon showed confused speech and he claimed that other driver was going “in and out of their lane.” He could not explain why he swerved into oncoming traffic, the arrest affidavit read.
He also told police that his steering wheel malfunctioned. The investigator noticed that Viramontes-Cocolon’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot, but he denied having any alcohol or drugs. Testing showed a blood alcohol concentration reading of .044. Based on his evaluation, the investigator believed that he was intoxicated from alcohol and possibly drugs as well, the document stated.
