A 30-year-old Lubbock man who reportedly told investigators he was drinking at a nearby bar before a Jan. 16 deadly crash was indicted Tuesday by a Lubbock County grand jury.
Gabriel Zerrata is charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison.
Investigators believe Zerrata was intoxicated while he drove his Chevrolet Tahoe at more than 70 mph through the intersection of University Avenue and Marsha Sharp Freeway and ran a red light before colliding into a Honda Fit driven by 19-year-old Jessica Helmers, according to the warrant issued Jan. 22.
Helmers died at the scene and Zerrata was taken by ambulance to University Medical Center.
Arrest warrant reveals details in crash that took the life of a 19-year-old TTU student Jessica Jessi Helmers, 19, was killed in a crash on Jan. 16, 2021 in Lubbock. She was a TTU student. (Source: GoFundMe) By Amber Stegall | February 4, 2021 at 11:20 AM CST - Updated February 4 at 11:20 AM
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - More details have been revealed about a fatal crash that took the life of 19-year-old Jessica Helmers on Jan. 16, 2021 at 2:15 a.m.
The new information comes from an arrest warrant for the man now charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon. 30-year-old Gabriel Zerrata (Source: Lubbock County Detention Center)
Kimberlie Dawson, the mother of a Lubbock woman who was killed in a car crash, has filed a lawsuit against the other person involved and Skooner's Grill & Bar, where they claim they were before the crash.
Mother of Tech student killed in crash sues bar, driver for wrongful death
Mother of Tech student killed in crash sues bar, driver for wrongful death By Chelsea Collinsworth | January 28, 2021 at 5:40 PM CST - Updated January 28 at 6:47 PM
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Kimberlie Dawson filed a lawsuit against Skoonerâs Bar & Grill and Gabriel Zerrata for the wrongful death of 19-year-old Jessica Helmers.
Dawson is listed as Helmersâ surviving parent and is seeking monetary relief over $1,000,000, according to the lawsuit.
The suit claims the bar overserved Zerrata resulting in the crash.
Helmers was killed after Gabriel Zerrata collided into her passenger car at the intersection of Marsha Sharp and University Ave.