A man accused of being one of two drivers whose race down Richmond Road in Texarkana, Texas, caused a fatal crash was in a Bowie County courtroom Friday morning.
Gilbert Burton, 52, allegedly left the scene March 20 in his 2007 yellow Dodge Charger Super Bee after the black 2000 Ford Mustang GT he was racing crashed into the driver's side of a gold 2003 Toyota Avalon at Richmond Road's intersection with Wheeler Street about 5:30 p.m., according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. The crash killed 20-year-old LaQuania Hopkins.
The Mustang's driver, Kalob Doyle, 25, was also injured and taken to a local hospital. After witnesses informed police that Burton and Doyle had been racing, Doyle allegedly admitted to drag racing.
Burton appeared Friday before 5th District Judge Bill Miller with Texarkana lawyer John Pickett for a pre-indictment hearing on a charge of racing on a highway with serious bodily injury or death. Pickett told Miller he has received some discovery, or copies of evidence, prosecutors intend to use against Burton, but asked for time to review "audio and video referenced in this case."
Miller scheduled Burton to return to court June 15 for a second pre-indictment hearing.
Doyle's case is assigned to Miller as well. Doyle has not yet appeared before Miller in the case.
Both men face two to 20 years in prison if convicted. Burton is free on a $100,000 bond. Doyle is free on a $50,000 bond.