Officer Mitchell Penton Killed in Dallas Pedestrian Accident on North Central Expressway at Walnut Hill Lane; Phillip Mabry Arrested

Dallas, Texas (February 14, 2021) – A Dallas police officer was fatally struck by an intoxicated driver early Saturday morning in Dallas, according to police.

The deadly accident happened around 1:45 a.m., February 13, in the northbound lanes of North Central Expressway at Walnut Hill Lane.

Police said Officer Mitchell Penton was blocking traffic for a crash in the northbound lanes of the expressway and was standing outside his squad car, which had its emergency lights on. A Kia Forte, which was traveling at a high rate of speed, rear-ended the squad car and pushed it into Officer Penton.

Officer Penton was taken to Baylor University Medical Center, where he later died. 

The Kia driver, 32-year-old Phillip Mabry, was arrested on a charge of intoxication manslaughter on a police officer and intoxication assault in connection with the passenger who was in his vehicle. The passenger was taken to a local hospital for trauma to her chest area and a laceration on her face.

An investigation into the crash is underway.

In Texas, a driver is legally intoxicated after consuming alcohol if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08% or higher. A driver is also considered intoxicated if they don’t have the normal use of their mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol. Alcohol however is not the only intoxicant, as drivers can become intoxicated by ingesting prescription and illegal drugs such as crack, marijuana, and cocaine.

Regardless of what substance caused the driver’s reaction time to become significantly altered, intoxication by any means can cause terrible accidents and injuries.

Innocent victims harmed by drunk drivers are entitled to compensation for their injuries, including but not limited to medical expenses; lost wages; pain and suffering and mental anguish; physical impairment and disability; and most importantly, punitive damages to deter future conduct. If a death occurred because of a drunk driver, you will want a knowledgeable accident lawyer to bring a wrongful death action against the drunk driver.

To speak with one of our highly qualified lawyers at  Joel A. Gordon & Associates, Click to call: 281-943-5555.