A mother in Houston, Texas, is under arrest after a horrific crash left her 3-year-old son dead and her 8-year-old son seriously injured last Saturday. According to police, Cristal Gonzalez, 26, was speeding when she suddenly lost control of her Toyota Camry and crashed into a raised concrete median. It didn't take long for authorities to determine the true cause of the crash: Her blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit, KHOU reports — and she's been charged with murder.
The accident happened around 5 a.m. November 9, shortly after Gonzalez picked up her two children from their father's home.
Following the crash, Gonzalez and her sons were rushed to a nearby hospital where DeAngelo Maldonado, 3, was pronounced dead. Her other son, 8-year-old Christopher Maldonado, was treated for a broken leg and is expected to survive.
As for Gonzalez, she underwent surgery for a chest injury caused by the crash, and was listed in critical but stable condition.
It was clear to investigators from the start that a dangerous amount of alcohol was involved -- even before Gonzalez's level was checked.
“There was a strong odor of alcohol in the car,” Houston Police Department Sgt. Thomas Fendia told Click2 Houston. “She actually did throw up, and there were some pills in there also.”
When investigators checked her blood alcohol content, it was found to be three times the legal limit for Texas.
“Getting intoxicated and driving is just not an option,” Sean Teare, chief of the Harris County District Attorney’s vehicular crimes division, told the Houston Chronicle. “Hopefully this is the one that wakes more people up.”
Adding to the tragic nature of the crash, investigators say, is the belief that DeAngelo may have been improperly restrained.
Fendia told Click2 Houston that his team believes the toddler was either incorrectly buckled into the seat or was in the wrong-sized car seat, which put him at greater risk for injury, or in this case, death.
Gonzalez has since been charged with felony murder and intoxication assault, but according to ABC 13, Teare said others could also be charged in the case. The district attorney's office plans to investigate Gonzalez's credit card records to determine where she became so intoxicated.
The toddler's grieving family has set up a GoFundMe campaign, as they struggle to cover both funeral costs and medical expenses for Christopher.
"Sadly our wonderful baby boy was taken from us too soon," the page read. "He was full of joy and life … I ask that you keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers."
Meanwhile, neighbors and friends of the family are stunned by the news of what happened.
"She's a great mom. I see her all the time," one neighbor told KHOU. "I'm just in shock that this happened. This is not like her."
