A Bowie County grand jury indicted a 24-year-old Avery, Texas, man Thursday for intoxication manslaughter.
Adrian Severn Blood was allegedly under the influence of Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication commonly abused on the street, when he struck another motorist from behind at approximately 6:30 a.m. Sept. 11 as both traveled on U.S. Highway 82 between Malta and DeKalb, Texas, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account.
Blood was allegedly driving a 2017 Chevrolet Impala at 129 miles per hour when he slammed into the back of a 2013 Chevrolet Impala being driven by a 35-year-old woman. The 2013 Impala overturned before coming to rest in a ditch. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Blood's 2017 Impala reportedly flipped multiple times before coming to rest on its top. Crash investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety determined Blood was coming from a methadone treatment center in Texarkana, Ark., at the time of the crash.
Blood allegedly had a bottle in his possession with his name on it and labeled methadone, which contained a single Xanax tablet.
"Family stated that he is known to take Xanax, however he stated that he only takes methadone," the affidavit states.
Blood's urine allegedly tested positively for benzodiazepines at the hospital that treated him after the wreck. Xanax is a benzodiazepene, and Blood allegedly did not have a prescription for the drug.
Blood is free on a $75,000 bond. If convicted of intoxication manslaughter, he faces two to 20 years in prison. The case is assigned to 5th District Judge Bill Miller.