Zalen Gonzalez Killed in Port Lavaca Pedestrian Accident on West George Street; Noe Rodriguez Paez Charged

Port Lavaca, Texas (August 20, 2020) – A 3-year-old boy was struck and killed by a vehicle Tuesday night in Port Lavaca, according to police.

The deadly accident happened around 8:00 p.m., August 18, in the 800 block of West George Street.

Police said Noe Rodriguez Paez, 52, was driving when he struck a child on the street.

The child was taken to Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca, where he was pronounced dead. Family friends have identified him as Zalen Gonzalez.

Paez was arrested and has been charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, which is a second-degree felony. He is being held at the Calhoun County Jail on a $1,000,000 bond.

An investigation into the crash is underway.

We pass our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Zalen Gonzalez.

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.