S ier ra v . S ta te , N o. 14- 06- 00528- C R , 2007 T ex. A pp. L E X I S 6724 ( T ex. 1 A p p .— H o u s to n [ 1 4 th D is t.] A u g . 2 3 , 2 0 0 7 ). 

## IN THE COU RT O F CR IM IN AL AP PE ALS

OF TE XAS N O . P D - 0018- 08
A N TO N I O SI ER R A , A ppe l l ant

v . THE S TA TE OF TE X AS ON S TATE ’ S PET I TI ON FOR DI S CRETI ON ARY REVI EW FROM THE FOURTEENTH CO URT O F AP PEALS

HA RRI S CO UNTY K EASLE R , J. , de l i ve r e d t he opi ni on o f t he C our t i n w hi c h K ELL ER , P .J ., P RI CE , W OMACK , J OHNS ON , H ERVEY , and C OCHRAN J J ., jo in e d . M E YE RS , J ., f i l e d a di s s e nt i ng opi ni on i n w hi ch H OL C OM B , J. , j oi ne d. O P I N I O N T h e co u rt of appe al s hel d t hatt he evi dence w as l egal l yi ns uffi ci entt o s uppor tt he ju ry ’s f in d in g th a t A n to n io S ier ra u se d o r e x h ib ite d h is v e h icle a s a d e a d lyw e a p o n w h ile dr i vi ng i nt oxi cat ed. W e di s agr ee. A r at i onal j ur ycoul d have f ound t hatSi err a dr ove i n a 1
re c k les s a n d d a n g e ro u s m a n n e r d u rin g th e o f f e n se . W e th e re f

o re re v e rse a n d re m a n d th isS I E R R A —2

c a s e to th e c o u rt o f

a p p e a ls
. Backg r ound A t appr oxi m at el y 4: 30 p. m . on A ugus t 20, 2005, L aur a Pachec o and h er boy fr i end, H ect orSal i nas A l m endar ez, w er e l eavi ng an apa r t m entcompl ex i n H ous t on. A s t heydr ove out of t he compl e x o n t o I mpe r i a l Val l e yDr i v e i n a s ma l l To y o t a f o u r - d o o rc a r , Si e r r a Tboned the ca rw i t h hi s For d SU V
. I m per i al V al l ey D ri v e is a fo ur - l ane, heavi l yus ed r oad t hati s s epar at ed by a m edi an made of conc r et e and gr as s . T he entr ance and exi tof t he apart m entcompl ex ar e l ocat ed aft er a s l i ght cur ve on I m per i al V al l eyD r i ve and a r e adorned
w i t h bus hes and a w r oughti r on fenc e on eac h s i de. Si err a’ s SU V hi tt he dr i ver ’ s s i de of the car, pu shi ng partof iton t o the m edian. W hen t he S U V st op ped , i trem ai ned press ed ag ai nst th e d ri v e r’ s s id e o f

th e c a r. A f t e rt h e a c c i d e n t , Si e r r a g o to u to f h i s t ru c k a n d b e g a n t o s c r e a m a tPa c h e c o a nd A l m end a r e z , b l a mi n g t h e m f o rc a u s i n g t h e a c c i d e n t . Al me n d a r e z , who was i n t he pas s enger ’ s s eatof t he ca r , l ooked overatPachec o i n t he dr i ver ’ s s eat . H e not i ced thats he
w as bl eedi ng and notm ovi ng ort al ki ng. A l m endar ez y el l ed atSi err a t o ca ll fo r h el p and t hen pas s ed out
. O ffi cerT
. T r i pl et tw i t h t he H ous t on Pol i ce D epart m ent arr i ved att he s cene of t he ac ci denta fe w m i nut es l at er and cal l ed for an am bul ance . O ffi cer T r i pl et ti dent i fi ed S i e r r a a s t h e d r i v e ro f

t h e S VU a n d s me l l e d a “ [ s ] t r o n g o d o ro f a l c o h o l o n h i s b r e a t h
. ” By t he t i m e t hat O ffi cer T r i pl et t ar r i ved, A l m endar ez r egai ned consc i ous nes s , butPachec o w as
s t i l l pi nned i n t he ca r ; s he w as havi ng di ffi cul t y br eathi ng and w as convul s i ng. A t ow t ruckS I E R R A —3

pul l ed Si err a’ s SU V fr om t he car , and em er gency per s onnel r emoved Pacheco f r om t he ca r and t ook hert o t he hos pi t al
. She r emai ned i n t he hos pi t al fora mont h. Att r i a l , Al me n d a r e z r e c a l l e d wh a th e s a w i mm e d i a t e l yb e f o r e t h e a c c i d e n t . He test ifi ed that P ac h ec o fu ll y stop p ed the ca r an d w ait ed fo r t h e o n co m ing tr af fic to p ass b ef

o re pull ing ont o I m per i al V al l eyD r i ve. A l m endar ez s aw Si err a’ s SU V t r avel i ng s out h i n t he out erl ane. H e al s o n o ti ce d an o t hercar , w hi ch w as i n fr ontof Si err a’ s SU V , m ake a r i ght tu r n i n t o t h e a p a r t me n tc o mp l e x . Att h i s p o i n t , Al me n d a r e z l o s ts i g h to f S i e r r a ’ s S UV b e c a u s e t h e c a re n t e r i n g t h e c o mp l e x b l o c k e d h i s v i e w. Al me n d a r e z t h e n s a w S i e r r a ’ s S UV, tr avel i ng s out h i n t he i nner l ane, r i ght befor e t he cr as h. A l m endar ez t es t i fi ed t h at S ierra change d l anes beca us e the ca ri n fr ont of hi m w as tur ni ng i nt o t he compl ex. H e al s o s t at ed t hatt he bus h att he nor t h s i de of the entran ce to the compl ex di d notbl ock hi s vi ew of t he tr a f f ic h e a d in g s o u th
. A ft erPachec o w as t aken t o t he hos pi t al , O ffi cerD ougl as W ayne Ert ons w i t h t he H ous t on Pol i ce D epart m ent ’ s acc i dentdi vi s i on arr i v ed att he s cene t o col l ecti nfor m at i on. O ffi cerE r t ons i ni t i al l y obs er ved t hat : t he roa d w as dr y , t her e w er e no s ki d m ar ks l eadi ng up t o t he poi ntof i m pact , t h ere w as a gouge i n t he r oad nea rt he entr ance and exi tof t he apart m entcompl ex, and ther e w er e s i dew ay s s ki d m ar ks l eadi ng up to w h ere t he ca rw as
r es t i ng on t he medi an. O ffi cerE r t ons t es t i fi ed thatt he gouge i n t he r oad s how ed the poi nt of i m pactand thatthe s i dew ay s m ot i on of t he car ’ s t i r es cr eat ed t he ski d m ar ks l eadi ng t o t he
m ed ian. O ff

icer E rt o n s testi fied to three p o ssibil it ies fo r th e la c k o f a n ysk id m ark s b ef o reS I E R R A —4

t he poi nt of i m pact : fi r s t , t hat Si er r a di d not br ake; s econd, t hat Si err a di d notappl yt he br ake har d enough; ort hi r d, t hatt he SU V had an ti lock b rakes and Si err a “a ppl i ed the br akes but th e yw o u ld n o t sk id
. . . . ” A t th e sc e n e , O f f ice r E rto n s s p o k e to S ier ra a n d a sk e d h im to iden ti fyw h ere h e w as o n Im p erial V all ey D ri v e w h en h e first saw the ca r. B ase d o n S ierra’s
ac co u n t, at t ri al, O ff

icer E rt o n s stat ed that an av era g e, u n d istrac ted p erso n rea cti n g to the ca r’s pr es ence under t hes e condi t i ons and tr avel i ng att he pos t ed s peed l i m i tof t hi r t y - fi ve mi l es per ho ur w ou l d b e able t o co m e t o a co m plet e st op w i t hin seventy -one feet of t he car. O n crosse x a m in a tio n , O f

f ice r E rto n s c o n c e d e d th a t h e w a s u n c e rta in w h e th e r S ier ra ’s a c c o u n t o f h is l ocat i on at t he t i m e he fi r s ts aw t he ca rw as ent i r el yacc ur at e. O ffi cerE r t ons expl ai ned that he di d not know w hether t he Spani s h- s peaki ng t r ans l at ors peci fi cal l yas ked Si err a i f he w as
n e a r, p a s t, o r r ig h t a t th e lo c a tio n id e n tif ie d b yS ie rr a . O ffi cerE r t ons al s o cal cul at ed the s peed of S ierra’s S U V att w enty - ei ghtm i l es per ho ur. Q uali fy i ng his cal culat i on att ri al , O ffi cer Ert on s t est i fi ed thati tw as i naccu rat e beca use he coul d notacc ountfort he ene r gyorm om entum l os s fr om t he ca rs t r i ki ng t he medi an and th e n re stin g o n to p o f

th e m e d ian . O f

f ice r E rto n s e stim a ted th a t S ier ra w a s tr a v e lin g a t a
s peed be t w een hi ghw ay and publ i c roa dw ay s peeds
. W hen O ffi cer E r t ons s poke t o Si err a he “det ect ed an odor ” of alcohol , and w hen he a s ked Si err a w hetherhe had be en dr i nki ng or t aki ng anydrugs ornar cot i cs , Si er r a t ol d hi m t hathe di d n o t u se an y d rugs ordr i nk any al cohol t hatday
. Fi nal l y , O ffi cer E r t ons t es t i fi ed t hat bot h t he bus h on t he nor t h s i de and a
carm aki ng a r i ghttur n i nt o t he compl ex coul d obs t ruct t he vi ew of a dr i ver tur ni ng nor t h outS I E R R A —5

See T EX . P E N A L C OD E A NN . § § 4 9 .0 1 (1 )- (2 ) ( V e rn o n 2 0 0 3 ). 2 Sier ra , 2 0 0 7 T e x . A p p . L E X IS 6 7 2 4 , a t * 1 , * 4
. 3 Id
. at*4- 5. 4 o f th e c o m p le x . S ier ra w a s a rre ste d f

o r d riv in g w h ile in to x ica te d (D W I). H e f a iled se v e ra l f

ield
s obr i etyt es t s , and hi s bl ood and br eath s ampl es r evea l ed thathi s al cohol conce nt r at i on, w hi ch
re g iste re d a t ap p ro x im a tely.1 2 , ex c e e d e d th e leg a l li m it o f .0 8
. D u rin g th e f

ield so b rie ty 2 t es t s , per for m ed s hor t l yaft er7:00 p. m . , Si err a t ol d t he admi ni s t r at i ng offi cert hathe had t hi r t een be er s t he pr evi ous ni ghtw hi l e w at chi ng t he A s t r os game. H e w as al s o adamantt hat t he ac ci dentw as nothi s faul t and s ai d t hathe w as goi ng t en mi l es perhourundert he s peed lim it. I n A pr i l 2006, Si er r a w as char ged w i t h fel onyD W I
. A j ur yfound h i m gui l t yand found t hathe us ed hi s SU V as a deadl y w eapon dur i ng t he comm i s s i on of t he off ens e. T he ju ryth e n se n ten c e d S ier ra to ten y e a rs’ im p riso n m e n t. C o u r t o f A p p e a ls O n a p p e a l, S ier ra c laim e d , am o n g o th e r th in g s, th a t th e e v id e n c e w a s le g a lly insu ff ici en t t o su p p o rtthe ju ry ’s a ff irm ati v e d ea d lyw ea p o n fin d ing
. In d o ing so , S ierra 3
m ai nt ai ned t hatt he ac ci dent w as not hi s faul t . T ow ar d t hatend, he ar gued that : “( 1) he had 4 t he r i ghtof w ay ; ( 2) he w as dr i vi ng at a m oder at e r at e of s peed; ( 3) bot h dr i ver s ’ vi s i on w as
o b sc u re d b ya f

e n c e a n d b u sh e s; (4 ) p rio r to c o lli sio n , [ h e ] a p p lied h is b ra k e s a n d tu rn e d toS I E R R A —6

I d. 5 I d. at*8- 9. 6 I d. at*8. 7 I d. at*17. 8 t he l ef t to avoi d t he col l i s i on; and ( 5) t her e i s no evi dence t hathi s i nt oxi cat i on caus ed or
c o n trib u ted to th e a c c id e n t.” T h e c o u rt o f a p p e a ls ag re e d w ith S ier ra a n d h e ld th a t th e re is 5
n o ev iden ce that S ierra “w as driving in a rec k less, threa tenin g , ca reless, o r da n g ero u s m an n er, t hathe had vi ol at ed anyt r aff i c l aw s , or t hat he w as ot herw i s e atfaul tfort he col l i s i on. ” T he 6
cour tdet er m i ned t hat t he onl y evi dence i ndi cat i ng t he manneri n w hi ch Si err a dr ove i ncl udes t he fol l ow i ng: “( 1) hi s s peed w as bel ow t he 35 m i l e per hour s peed l i m i t ; ( 2) t her e w er e no ski d m arks l eading up t o the acci den t ; and (3) based o n the l ocati on t hat [Si err a] s ai d h e fi rs t p e rc e iv e d th e d a n g e r, [ h e ] s h o u ld h a v e b e e n a b le to s to p b e f o re th e c o llis io n o c c u rr e d .” 7 C o n seq u en tl y , the c o u rt o rd e re d the d ea d lyw ea p o n fin d ing d eleted fro m the tri al co u rt ’s ju d g m e n t. 8 St at e’ s P et i t i on f or D i s cre t i onary R evi ew W e gr ant ed the St at e’ s pet i t i on for di s cr et i onary r evi ew t o deci de w hethert he courtof appea l s appl i ed the w r ong l egal s t andar d and as s um e d i ncorr ectfac t s i n r ever s i ng and del et i ng th e ju ry ’s a f

f irm a tiv e d e a d lyw e a p o n f in d in g . T h e S ta te a rg u e s th a t re q u irin g a p e rso n to dr i ve i n a r eckl es s , t hr eat eni ng, car el es s , ordanger ous m annert o s us t ai n a dea dl yw eapon fin d ing is n o t th e p rop er leg al st an d ard
. T h e S tat e f u rt h er a rgu es th at, ev en if t h is st an d ardS I E R R A —7

St at e’ s B r . at12. 9 T EX . P E N A L C OD E A NN . § 4 9 .0 4 (a ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 3 ); S ta te v . B a rb e rn e ll , 257 10 S .W .3 d 2 4 8 , 2 5 6 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 8 ).

B a rb e rn e ll , 257 S. W
. 3d at249. 11 T EX . P E N A L C OD E A NN . § 1 .0 7 (a )( 1 7 )( B ) ( V e rn o n 2 0 0 3 ). 12 M a n n v . S ta te , 5 8 S .W .3 d 1 3 2 , 1 3 3 (T e x . C rim . A p p . 2 0 0 1 ); see al so T EX . C OD E 13 C R IM . P R OC . art. 4 2 .1 2 § 3 g (a )(2 ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 6 ); T EX . G OV ’ T C OD E A NN . § 508. 145 (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ), § § 5 0 8 .1 4 9 , 5 0 8 .1 5 1 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 4 ). i s cor r ect , t he facts of t hi s cas e meett he s t andar d; t her efor e, uphol di ng t he dea dl yw eapon f in d in g in th is c a s e w ill n o t “ o p e n th e f lo o d g a te s to s u c h f

in d in g s in a ll f

e lo n yD W I c a s e s .” 9 N evert hel es s , t he St at e cont ends t hatt her e i s no rul e of l aw pr eve n ti n g a d ea dl yw eapon f in d in g in a ll f

e lo n yD W I c a s e s . A n a ly sis Secti o n 4 9
. 0 4 of t he Texas Penal C ode pr ohi bi t s a per s on fr om oper at i ng a mot or vehi cl e i n a publ i c pl ace w hi l e i n a s t at e of i nt oxi cati o n . “I nt oxi cat ed” i n Penal C ode 10 Sect i on 49. 01( 2) i s defi ned as ei t her : “l os s of fa cul t i es ” or “per s e” i nt oxi cat i on ( i
. e. , . 08 or
m or e al cohol conce ntr at i on)
. “D eadl yw eapon, ” as d ef ined i n Penal C ode Sect i on 11 1. 07( a) ( 17) ( B ) , m eans “anyt hi ng t hati n t he mannerof i t s us e o r in te nded us e i s capa bl e of causi n g d e a th o r ser i ou s bod i l yi njur y . ” A n aff i rm at i ve d eadlyw eapo n findi ng has a 12
n eg ati v e im p ac t on a d ef endant ’ s el i gi bi l i tyforcomm u n itysu p erv isi o n , p aro le, an d m an d atory
s uper vi s i on. 13S I E R R A —8

1 3 S .W .3 d 8 9 , 9 1 -9 2 (T e x . A p p .— A u s tin 2 0 0 0 ). 14 M a n n v . S ta te , 5 8 S .W .3 d 1 3 2 , 1 3 2 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 1 ). 15 M ann , 13 S. W
. 3d at91- 92. 16 8 9 7 S .W .2 d 7 9 6 , 7 9 8 -9 9 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 5 ). 17 M ann , 1 3 S .W .3 d a t 9 1
. 18 I d. at92. 19 7 6 9 S
. W
. 2 d 9 3 8 , 9 4 0 (T ex . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 8 9 ). 20 A dopt i ng t he re as oni ng and hol di ng of t he A us t i n C our tof A ppeal s i n M a n n v . S ta te , 14

w e hel d t hatT exas l aw author i zes a dea dl yw eap o n findi ng i n fel onyD W I cas es . T he 15 A us t i n cour tr ej ect ed M ann’ s ar gum ent s t hatus e of a deadl yw eapon w i t houtan as s oci at ed f e lo n yw ill n o t su p p o rt a d e a d lyw e a p o n f in d in g a n d th a t s u c h a f in d in g is im p e rm iss ib le beca us e D W I i s a m i s demeanor offe ns e at i t s i ncept i on. R el y i ng on our deci s i on i n Tyr a v. 16 S ta te , w h e re w e sa id th a t T yra ’s v e h icle w a s u se d a s a d e a d lyw e a p o n w h e n h e a c c id e n tally
o r m ist ak en lyca u sed th e d e a th o f a n ind ividu al w h en d ri v ing w h il e into x icated , the c o u rt 17 hel d t hatno as s oci at ed off ens e i s r equi r ed undert he phr as e “us ed a deadl y w eapon. ” T he 18
cour tal s o det er m i ned thatpr i orconvi ct i ons us ed t o el evat e a mi s demeanorD W I t o a fe l ony
ar e “e l eme n t s of t he off ens e unders ect i on 49. 09( b) ; ” thus , an af fi r m at i ve dea dl yw eapon fi ndi ng i s notunl aw ful beca us e D W I i s a mi s demeanorati t s i ncept i on. Q uot i ng fr om our 19 deci s i on i n P a tterso n v . S ta te , th e c o u rt n o ted th a t “ [ a ]ll f e lo n ies a re th e o re tica llysu sc e p tib le 20 t o an af fi r m at i ve w eapon f

i ndi ng fort he purpos es of deni al of comm uni t ysu per vi s i on andS I E R R A —9

M ann , 13 S. W
. 3d at92. 21 I d. 22 I d. 23 Id
. 24 I d. 25 8 9 7 S .W .2 d 8 1 2 , 8 1 4 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 5 ). 26 l i m i t at i on of par ol e el i gi bi l i t y . ” C ons i der i ng the s peci fi c i ssu e b efor e i t , t he courtas ked 21

w hether the evi dence s how s t hatM ann’ s vehi cl e “s houl d be cl as s i fi ed as a dea dl yw eapon beca us e i tw as capa bl e o f ca u sing seri ous bodi l yi nj ur yordeath i n a mannerof i t s us e or i nt ended us e w hi l e [M ann] comm i t t ed the fe l onyD W I
. ” I n m aki ng t hi s det er m i nat i on, t he 22
cour t s t at ed t hat “evi dence t hat ot her s w er e enda nger ed” i s r equi r ed; “a hypot het i cal pot ent i al fordangeri f ot her s had bee n pr es ent ” i s nots uffi ci ent . T he court the n found t hatt he 23 evi dence w as s uffi ci entbeca us e M ann “‘alm o st hi tanothervehi cl e hea d- on’ ” w hen he
cr os s ed the ce nt erl i ne and a n exper i ence d pol i ce of fi cert es t i fi ed thats uch a c ol l i s i on “w as
c a p a b le o f c a u sin g d e a th o r se rio u s b o d ily in ju ry .” T h e c o u rt a lso re jec ted M a n n ’ s c laim 24 th a t a p e rso n m u st ha v e th e sp e c if ic in ten t to u se a n in stru m e n t as a d e a d lyw e a p o n b a se d , in par t , on ourhol di ng i n W a lke r v . S ta te th a t “ n o in te n t to u se th e a u to m o b ile a s a d e a d ly

25

w e a p o n n e e d b e s h o w n .” 26 In t his case, w e m ustdecide w hether , i n v i ew i ng t he ev i den ce i n the l i gh tm ost favor abl e t o t he ver di ct , a r at i onal t r i erof fa ctcoul d have f ound bey ond a r eas onabl e doubtSI E R R A

— 10

C a tes v . S ta te , 102 S. W
. 3d 735, 738 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 2003) ( ci t i ng Jack s on v. 27 V i r gi na , 4 4 3 U .S . 3 0 7 , 3 1 9 (1 9 7 9 ); T isd a le v . S ta te , 6 8 6 S
. W
. 2 d 1 1 0 , 1 1 4 ( Te x . Cr i m. A p p . 1 9 8 5 ) ( o p . o n re h ’g ))
.

See T EX . P E N A L C OD E A NN . § 1 .0 7 (a )( 1 7 )( B ). 28 D ric h a s v . S ta te , 175 S. W
. 3d 795, 798 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 2005) ( ci t i ng Mc C a in 29 v . S ta te , 2 2 S .W .3 d 4 9 7 , 5 0 3 (T e x . C rim . A p p . 2 0 0 0 ); ( W a lke r v . S ta te , 897 S. W
. 2d 812, 8 1 4 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 5 ))
.

I d. ; T yra , 8 9 7 S .W .2 d a t 7 9 9 ; s ee al s o T EX . P E N A L C OD E A NN . § 6. 03( c) 30 (V ern o n 2 0 0 3 ).

C at es , 102 S. W
. 3d at738- 39. 31 897 S. W
. 2d at798- 99. 32 th a t S ier ra u s e d o r e x h ib ited h is S U V a s a d e a d lyw e a p o n w h e n h e w a s d riv in g w h ile i n t o x i c a t e d
. T h e r e f

o r e , we mu s t d e t e r mi n e i f t h e ma n n e r i n wh i c h S i e r r a u s e d h i s S UV 27

w h en d ri v ing w h il e into x icated w as c ap ab le of ca u sing d ea th o r se ri o u s b o d il y injury
. In 28
ma k i n g t h i s d e t e r mi n a t i o n i n p a s tc a s e s i n v o l v i n g a mo t o r v e h i c l e a s a d e a d l ywe a p o n , we have di vi ded thi s ques t i on i nt o t w o par t s : fi r s t , w e eval uat e t he manneri n w hi ch the def endant
u s e d t h e m o t o rv e h i c l e d u r i n g t h e f e l o n y; a n d s e c o n d , w e c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r , d u r i n g t h e f e l o n y, t h e m o t o rv e h i c l e w a s c a p a b l e o f c a u s i n g d e a t h o rs e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j u r y. 29 A lth o u g h w e h av e n ev er a n n o u n ce d a sp ec ifi c stan d ard fo r asse ssing a d ef en d an t’ s
m annerof dr i vi ng, w e have, i n pas t deci s i ons , exami ned w hether a defe ndant ’ s dr i vi ng w as
re c k les s o r d a n g e ro u s d u rin g th e c o m m iss io n o f a f e lo n y . F o r e x a m p le, in T y ra v . S ta te , 30 31

w e ch ara cter i zed Ty r a’ s dr i vi ng as r eckl es s “enough t o endange rt he l i ves of ot herpeopl e” and sai d t hat T yr a w as “t oo drunk t o contr ol t he vehi cl e. ” A nd i n M ann , as not ed above , t he 32SI E R R A

— 11

13 S. W
. 3d at92. 33 102 S. W
. 3d at738- 39. 34 1 7 5 S .W .3 d a t 7 9 7
. 35 I d. at798. 36 evi dence s how ed t hat M ann “‘ al m os t hi tanothervehi cl e hea d- on w hen [hi s ] vehi cl e cr os s ed t he cent erl ane. ” N ext , i n C at es , w e r ever s ed t he courtof appe al s ’ s hol di ng t hatt he evi dence 33

w as l egal l ys uffi ci entt o s us t ai n t he dea dl yw eapon f i ndi ng beca us e ther e w as no evi dence t hat C at es dr ove the truck i n a dea dl yordanger ous m annerdur i ng t he off ens e of fai l ur e t o s t op
an d r enderai d. Fi nal l y , i n D r i chas , we o b s e r v e d t h a tDr i c h a s , i n t h e c o u r s e o f evadi ng 34 detent i on w ith a v ehicl e, l ed law enfo rcem ent offi cers on a fi ft een-m i l e high-s peed chase dur i ng w hi ch he “di s r egar ded t r aff i c s i gns and s i gnal s , dr ove err at i cal l y , w ove betw een l anes and w i thi n l anes , tur ned abrupt l yi nt o a cons t ruct i on zone, . . . and dr ove dow n t he w r ong s i de
o n the h igh w ay . ” A ff

irm ing the d ea d lyw ea p o n fin d ing in that ca se, w e sa id tha t D ri ch as’s 35 “mannerof us i ng hi s t ruck pos ed a danger t o pur s ui ng offi cer s and ot her m ot or i s t s t hatw as
m o re th a n s im p ly h yp o th e tic a l.” 36 I n t hi s cas e, w hen eva l uat i ng t he manneri n w hi ch Si err a w as dr i vi ng w hi l e i nt oxi cat ed, t he cour tof appe al s det er m i ned thatt o aff i r m a dea dl yw eapon f i ndi ng, t her e mustbe evi dence of: ( 1) r eckl ess, threat eni ng, car el es s , ordanger ous dr i vi ng; ( 2) a vi ol at i on of any t r aff i c l aw ; and ( 3) faul t for t he col l i s i on. O urpr ece di ng di s cus s i on es t abl i s hes t hats om e of th e c riter ia u se d b y th e c o u rt o f a p p e a ls in c lu d e f

a c to rs th a t w e h a v e f

o u n d d e ter m in a tiv e inSI E R R A

— 12

St at e’ s B r . at11. 37 I d. (cit ing h ttp ://w w . m ad d
. o rg/D run k -D ri v ing /D run k -D ri v ing /Stati sti cs.asp x ). 38 Sier ra , 2 0 0 7 T e x . A p p . L E X IS 6 7 2 4 , at * 1 0 n .8 ; s ee al s o M ann , 58 S. W
. 3d at 39 1 3 3 -34 (Joh n so n J. , co n cu rri n g , joine d b yP ri ce an d C o ch ran , JJ.)
.

See Cat es , 102 S. W
. 3d at739. 40 p ri o r c a s e s
— d a n g e ro u s a n d re c k le s s d ri v in g a n d th e v io la tio n o f tr a f f ic la w s . T he St at e ur ges us t o l ook bey ond a defenda nt ’ s over tphy s i cal act i ons and r el yi ns t ead on t he s i ngl e fa ct orof i nt oxi cat i on, w hi ch, i n t he St at e’ s vi ew , i s “the m os tdanger ous and
r eckl es s of t hem al l
. ” I n s uppor t of i t s ar gum ent , t he St at e ci t es t he fol l ow i ng s t at i s t i c fr om 37 th e M o th e r’s A g a in st D ru n k D riv in g w e b site : “I n 2 0 0 6 , an e stim a ted 1 7 ,6 0 2 p e o p le d ied in
a lco h o l-re late d tra f

f ic c ra sh e s— a n a v e ra g e o f o n e e v e ry3 0 m in u tes .” T h e c o u rt o f a p p e a ls 38
r ej ect ed thi s ar gum ent , and Si err a ar gues t hatw e s houl d do t he same. B ut w e do notneed 39 t o s et t l e thati s s ue t oday
. O urpr ece dentgi ves us adequa t e gui dance her e bec aus e, w hen
r evi ew i ng t he fa ct s of t hi s cas e, t he courtof appe al s err ed i n concl udi ng t hatSi err a’ s m anner
o f d ri v in g w h ile in to x ic a te d w a s n o t r e c k le s s o r d a n g e ro u s . L o o k in g a t th e e v id e n c e in th e lig h t m o st f a v o ra b le to th e p ro se c u tio n , a ra tio n a l f a c tf inder w as perm i t t ed t o conclude that S i err a w as dri ving r eckles sl y or dan gerousl y w h ile i nt oxi cat ed. T her e w as no evi dence t hatSi err a att empt ed t o br ake befor e the i m pact , even

40 th o u g h h e to ld O f

f ice r E rto n s th a t h e w a s 2 4 7 f e e t a w a y f

ro m th e c a r w h e n h e f

irst sp o tted it. B as ed on Si err a’ s acc ount , t he evi dence s how ed t hata nor m al , undi s t r act ed per s on, w ho w as dr i vi ng att he t hi r t y - fi ve mi l e- per - hours peed l i m i t , w oul d have s t opped s event y -on e feetSI E R R A

— 13

befor e the ca r . T her efor e, Si err a coul d have a voi ded the col l i s i on, but he fai l ed t o do s o, even t hough he had a m pl e oppor tuni t yt o s t op befor e hi t t i ng t he ca r . T he evi dence al s o es t abl i s hed that S ierra w as tr av eli n g at a sp ee d b etw ee n p u b li c roa d w ay sp ee d s, w h ich a rea so n ab le j u ry coul d i nferm eantt hi r t y - fi ve mi les p er hour fr om O ffi cerE r t ons ’ s t es t i m ony , and hi ghw ay
s peeds
. C ons i der i ng al l of t hes e fa ct s , a j ur y coul d r eas onabl y fi nd t hatSi err a w as s peedi ng and fa i l ed t o m ai nt ai n cont r ol hi s SU V
. T her efor e, i tw as r eas onabl e fort he j ur yt o concl ude t hatSi err a’ s dr i vi ng w as danger ous and r eckl es s w hi l e i nt oxi cat ed. N ext , w e tur n t o t he s econd i nqui r y
— w hether Si err a’ s SU V w as capa bl e of c aus i ng
s er i ous bodi l yi nj ur yatt he t i m e of the ac ci dent
. W e fi nd t hata r at i onal j ur yw as per m i t t ed t o ans w eri n t he af

fi r m at i ve. T he r ecor d es t abl i s hes t hatt he S U V d id inde ed ca us e s er i ous bodi l yi nj ur yt o Pachec o. W e hol d t hat , vi ew ed i n t he l i ghtm os tfavor abl e t o t he ver di ct , t he evi dence i s l egal l ys uffi ci entt o s uppor tt he j ur y ’ s fi ndi ng t hatSi err a’ s S U V w as us ed or exhi bi t ed as a dea dl yw eapon. C oncl usi on B e c a u se th e e v id e n c e is le g a llysu f f icie n t to su p p o rt th e ju ry ’s a f f irm a tiv e d e a d ly
w e a p o n f

in d in g , w e r e v e r s e th e p a rt o f th e c o u rt o f

a p p e a ls’s ju d g m e n t d e letin g th e d e a d ly
w eapon f

i ndi ng and r ei ns t at e i t . Fur t her , w e r emand t hi s cas e s o t hatt he courtcan c ons i der Si err a’ s r emai ni ng poi ntof err or
— w hethert he evi dence i s fac tual l y s uffi ci ent t o s uppor tt he d e a d ly w e a p o n f

in d in g b e c a u s e th e c o u rt o f a p p e a ls re v e rs e d o n le g a l s u f f ic ie n c yo n ly.SI E R R A

— 14

D A T E D E L I V E R E D : A pr i l 1, 2009 PU BL I SH