On the evening of Thursday, January 9, an Irving Police officer observed a vehicle being driven erratically in snowy and icy conditions. Recognizing the danger posed by the driver, the officer activated his sirens in an attempt to pull the vehicle over.
Instead of stopping, the driver accelerated, leading officers on a pursuit. Due to the hazardous road conditions, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Officers apprehended the driver at the scene and discovered open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.
The driver, identified as 35-year-old Mercedes Amaya, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. A blood test later confirmed he was intoxicated, and Amaya was charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Evading Arrest Detention with a Vehicle.
Amaya, an undocumented immigrant, was booked into the Irving Jail at 7:54 p.m. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a hold on him at the request of INS-DFW.