GALVESTON, Texas – A Texas City Commissioner has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in an auto-pedestrian accident that left a father and son dead overnight.
Dee Ann Haney, 54, has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in fatal accident that happened just after midnight Monday along Interstate 45 near Galveston Causeway.
#BREAKING Texas City commissioner Dee Haney made bond after 2 charges of intox manslaughter overnight in #Galveston. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/ETjbrWvWpN
— Melissa Correa (@MCorreaKHOU) July 3, 2017
When police arrived at the scene of the accident, they found a black Toyota Tacoma pulled over to the right shoulder. They then found the two victims, a 59-year-old Van Duoc Le and his 33-year-old son Phue Hong Le, in a grassy area along the right shoulder of the freeway.
The father's son-in-law told police that the Tacoma was pulled over to the right shoulder of the roadway, and the father and son were standing along the driver’s side of the vehicle.
The son-in-law was attempting to secure items in the bed of the truck, when the white Ford F-150 driven by Haney was traveling northbound in the far right lane.
Police said the F-150 veered over to the shoulder and struck the father and son.
Haney was detained at the scene on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Police said that after a battery of tests conducted by both GPD and Texas DPS Troopers, Haney was arrested.
Court documents also state that she admitted to smoking marijuana before the crash happened.
Documents: TX City Commissioner Dee Haney admitted to smoking marijuana before police say she hit & killed father & son with truck. @KHOU pic.twitter.com/3xxzk537GG
— Janelle Bludau (@JanelleKHOU) July 3, 2017
Haney was released on bonds totaling to $100,000, police said.
The judge said that she must install a Breathalyzer in her car that requires her to blow into it before the vehicle is allowed the start. She is also not allowed to any place which has a primary purpose of selling alcohol like a bar.
Haney's mother and stepfather didn't want to talk on camera but they said Haney was not partying Sunday night. They say she was asleep, but was called out for a work emergency and was on her way home from that emergency when the accident happened.
Haney has holds an at-large seat on the Texas City Commission. She also serves as the safety coordinator providing oversight for Lab Safety and Student/Employee Safety Training at Texas A&M University at Galveston.
The university released the following statement late Monday morning:
“We learned this morning an employee of Texas A&M at Galveston, Dee Ann Haney, was involved in a vehicle accident last night that resulted in two deaths. Our deepest condolences go to the families of those who lost their lives.”
Later in the morning, the university said that Haney had been suspended for five days which rolls over into 30 if the issue is not resolved. They added it was standard practice.
Wednesday evening, Haney's attorney said she has no intentions of resigning from her position. She was not present at the Texas City Commissioner's meeting on Wednesday.