A 27-year-old woman stands accused of intoxication manslaughter after a collision with another car left a student from Southern Methodist University dead.
Lynlee Pollis allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Monticello Avenue and North Central Expressway service road at around 4:20 p.m. on September 24. Moving northbound, she collided with 19-year-old Honor Elizabeth Wallace’s vehicle, which was moving east on Monticello with a green light signal, per WFAA.
Pollis faces an additional charge of intoxication assault as an unidentified passenger had been traveling with Wallace and was said to have suffered a broken collarbone, according to NBC 5 DFW.
When an officer accused Pollis of smelling of alcohol and having glassy eyes, she admitted to having had a margarita while at a dog park and bar called MUTTS Canine Cantina in Dallas’ West Village. Tequila Fontaine, Pollis’ Siberian Husky, was in the car with her at the time of the crash but was uninjured, the Daily Mail reported.
After being hospitalized for minor wounds, Pollis was taken into custody and booked at Dallas County jail. She posted a bond of $100,000 on September 28.
SMU released a statement informing the student body of Wallace’s death and offering condolences to her family.
“Strength and support are found in community, and the SMU community stands ready to support you,” the school told students, per the Daily Mail.
Wallace was from Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, and was pursuing degrees in Spanish and English.
The Texas Department of Transportation reported that 1,162 deaths statewide were caused by drunk driving in 2022, which accounted for more than one-quarter of all driving deaths. It has launched an awareness-building campaign called #EndTheStreakTX to promote safer driving practices in the Lone Star State.
Intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony in Texas, which is punishable by two to 20 years in jail.
The suspected alcohol-related accident occurred in Council Member Paul Ridley’s District 14, which includes half of Downtown Dallas. Downtown Dallas has seen significantly higher crime rates than Fort Worth’s downtown area, which reportedly has a special unit dedicated to managing crime in the area alongside private security guards.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Police Department currently employs fewer than 3,200 officers. However, a City report estimated that there should be three police officers for every 1,000 residents in Dallas, indicating there should be roughly 4,000 officers employed at DPD.