More charges against drunk driver in Austin festival crash
A Travis County prosecutor said more charges could be in store for Rashad Charjuan Owens as investigators continue to interview victims in the March 13 South by Southwest crash.
More charges are being pressed against Rashad Charjuan Owens, the drunk driver who drove his vehicle into a crowded festival in Austin.
Investigators continue to interview victims in the March 13th South by Southwest crash, with Travis County prosecutors saying more charges are in store for Owens. New assault charges may be filed between now and when Owens' case is put into the grand jury, says prosecutor Amy Meredith. The case will be presented in mid-June or Owens will be eligible to be released from the Travis County Jail under his own recognizance, Meredith said.
Meredith has not issued whether officials plan to pursue Owens with murder charges of Jamie West, 27, and Steven Craenmehr, 35, who died at the scene of the crash and Deandre Tatum, 18, and Sandy Le, 26, who died days later due to injuries from the crash. Austin police officials charged Owen with capital murder in connections with the two victims death at the scene of the accident.
Up to 20 victims who were injured released details in a recent aggravated assault charges against Owens. One included a woman who had suffered from broken bones, missing teethes and a concussion after being flown up to 15 feet off the ground. Others would suffer brain injuries, lacerations. Some details of victim injuries would have included pain and swelling.
Judges have set Owens to a $100,000 bail, each new charge adding up to a new #3 million bail for capital murder charges. Owen is charged for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony that carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years. New charges originate in the Travis County district attorney office, police said.
Police measured Owen's alcohol content in a blood-alcohol test at .114, above the legal limit.
Source: Culture Map/a> "Rashad Owens faces even more charges in SXSW tragedy". Katie Friel, April 1, 2014