Teen driver charged with manslaughter
A teen driver has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault after losing control of his Mustang and crashing into a tree earlier this month.
On May 6, police were called to the scene in the 1900 block of Winter Pass Trail in Arlington.
According to Tiara Richard, a police spokeswoman at the scene, three males were inside the Mustang, which became wrapped around a tree in the crash. Richardson said the males range in age from late teens to early 20s.
James Henry Samora, 17, a Seguin High School student, was transported with non-life-threatening injuries to John
Peter Smith Hospital. Rescue crews extricated the other two passengers.
Richardson said the passenger in the front seat was killed. He was later identified by the medical examiner as Michael Rowlls, 17.
The passenger in the back seat was transported to Medical Center of Arlington with non-life-threatening injuries.
On May 22, police said Samora had been charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault with serious bodily injury. He is in the Arlington City Jail under a bail of $20,000.
Richard said an initial investigation indicates that speed likely played a role in the crash.
According to Leslie Johnston, a spokeswoman with the Arlington Independent School District, Samora was the only student from their district involved in the crash. But police said family members said Rowlls was not currently enrolled in school.
Source: WFAA "2 injured in Central Austin motorcycle crash". Staff, May 22, 2014