A man faces an intoxication manslaughter charge and an intoxication assault charge in connection with the crash, officials say.
DALLAS — A suspected drunken driver caused a multi-vehicle crash in Uptown Dallas that left a woman dead and two other people injured Sunday, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Preston Petty, 26, was driving a Tesla southbound in the 2900 block of Cedar Springs Road near Turtle Creek Boulevard at high speeds shortly after 5 p.m. Nov. 30 when he failed to negotiate a curve and drove up and off the roadway onto grass, according to the affidavit.
While off the roadway, Petty allegedly hit “2 or 3 trees, causing each one to snap at the base, then a pedestrian crosswalk pole, knocking that to the ground,” the affidavit states.
Petty then started to cross over the eastbound lanes on Turtle Creek Boulevard and hit the center median curb, causing his car to go airborne, per the report.
Petty’s Tesla hit the left driver’s side door of a vehicle driven by a woman later identified by officials as Emma Hackney, 29. The impact caused the vehicle to roll over before Petty’s Tesla landed on Hackney’s vehicle and came to rest after hitting a tree, the affidavit states.
Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and took Hackney to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to the report.
Hackney worked at the law firm Jackson Walker LLP and was described as a “beloved colleague with a really bright future.”
“Emma was a beloved young colleague with a really bright future. We are heartbroken, and our thoughts go out to her family and friends in this difficult time,” said Jackson Walker firmwide Managing Partner Wade Cooper.
A passenger in Petty’s vehicle was taken to Baylor Hospital and was found to have a fractured spine, broken nose, and a possible heel fracture, the affidavit states, and a passenger in Hackney’s vehicle was found to have a head laceration but no serious injury, the affidavit stated. Petty had refused medical treatment on scene, per the affidavit.
When questioned about what happened, Petty told police he was on his way to pick someone up when his passenger tried to grab his phone while he was driving, the affidavit states.
Police alleged in the affidavit that Petty smelled of alcohol. Petty admitted to driving 35-40 mph but denied taking any alcohol or drugs, the affidavit stated.
Due to the severity of the crash, Petty was taken to Parkland Hospital, where his blood was drawn after police obtained a warrant, according to the affidavit.
Petty faces charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault, jail records show. Petty was booked into the Dallas County Jail early Monday, records show.
