A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal head-on collision that left a 13-year-old girl dead and two others injured in Garland on Friday evening, according to police.
Officers responded to a crash that occurred on Castle Drive near Toler Road around 5 p.m. Multiple people were transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
Police identified 30-year-old Jeremy Spencer of Frisco as the apparent driver of a black Dodge pickup truck involved in the crash. They believe Spencer was too impaired to drive.
Spencer was arrested at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
He has been charged with two counts of Intoxication Assault with Vehicle-Serious Bodily Injury and Intoxication Manslaughter.
Police believe Spencer crossed the center median and collided head-on with a grey SUV that was traveling southbound.
The Dallas Express reached out to Garland police and was told that the 13-year-old girl, identified as Brooklyn Moran, was pronounced dead at a hospital on Saturday.
She was in the eighth grade and attended B.G. Hudson Middle School in Sachse, just northeast of Garland, where she played soccer.
Her soccer team nicknamed her “Mighty.”
The Dallas Express was able to speak with her coach, Jon Patterson.
“The Brooklyn that I know very well, is a tremendous athlete, sweet, loving young lady who just loved her teammates, loved her family, loved the Lord,” said Patterson.
“Her favorite thing was her soccer ball and her Bible, she’s fun, loving, energetic, smart, and loved to be around people, made everybody feel welcomed, made everybody feel accepted,” he added.
Patterson told The Dallas Express that Brooklyn, her mother, 37, and a friend, 13, were on their way to attend a varsity football game when the accident occurred.
Brooklyn’s mother is still hospitalized in critical condition. Brooklyn’s friend was also hospitalized but is expected to recover.
Patterson said the soccer team met on Sunday evening to talk about Brooklyn and see how everyone was holding up.
“It was devastating on these young ladies to lose a friend, a teammate, some have been with her since four, five, six years old,” said Patterson.
Patterson continued, “Moran loved the Lord, loved soccer, and loved the Bible.”
“She’s Mighty, and she’s made a lasting impact on all of us,” he added.
A tribute to Brooklyn was posted to a local reporter’s Twitter account.
The crash is still being investigated by law enforcement.