18-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED OF DRUNK DRIVING CRASH THAT KILLED 16-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER AND LEFT ANOTHER WITH BROKEN SPINE

A night out with friends turned into a devastating tragedy in Texas when an 18-year-old driver allegedly lost control of her vehicle while intoxicated, crashing into a light pole and a tree. The collision killed a 16-year-old passenger and left another young person with a broken spine, according to authorities.

Arissa Adams is facing charges of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle, according to jail records reviewed by Law&Crime. She is being held at the Potter County Detention Center.

The crash happened Wednesday at approximately 10:30 p.m. near the 1900 block of Port Lane in Amarillo, a city in the Texas Panhandle. Adams was reportedly driving with three other people in the vehicle when the accident occurred.

According to an arrest report obtained by local ABC affiliate KVII, the group had been drinking alcohol before the crash. Adams allegedly later told investigators that they had stolen alcohol from a Toot’n Totum convenience store.

One passenger reportedly told authorities that the occupants had been drinking and were drunk. As the vehicle turned, Adams allegedly lost control, causing it to leave the roadway and strike a light pole before crashing into a tree.

The impact was severe enough to throw three of the four occupants from the vehicle, including Adams herself, according to the arrest report.

16-Year-Old Passenger Dies After the Crash

The most devastating consequence of the collision was the death of a 16-year-old passenger who was sitting in the back seat. The teenager was ejected from the vehicle and died as a result of the crash. Authorities have not publicly identified the victim in the report cited by Law&Crime.

Two other passengers suffered serious injuries.

The person sitting in the front passenger seat reportedly sustained a broken ankle. Another passenger seated in the back, who was not thrown from the vehicle, suffered a broken spine, according to information reported by KVII.

The injuries highlight the devastating force of the crash. In a matter of seconds, a drive with friends became a life-changing emergency, leaving one teenager dead and others facing painful injuries and potentially lengthy recoveries.

The report did not provide further details about the injured passengers’ conditions or their long-term prognoses.

Police Say Driver Appeared Highly Intoxicated

Officers with the Amarillo Police Department responded to the scene following the collision. According to the arrest report, investigators observed signs that Adams was heavily intoxicated.

Authorities reportedly noted that she had glassy eyes, slurred speech and an odor of alcohol. Investigators also found several open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.

Police further alleged that Adams initially claimed someone else had been driving and had left the scene after the crash. Investigators later determined that Adams was the driver, according to the report.

The allegations became central to the investigation into the deadly collision. Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the group’s drinking, the driver’s condition and the sequence of events that led the vehicle off the road.

Adams now faces three serious charges: one count of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle in connection with the teenager’s death and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle related to the injured passengers.

The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.

A Tragic Reminder of the Consequences of Drunk Driving

The crash has left a 16-year-old dead and two other passengers injured, including one who suffered a broken spine. For the victim’s family and friends, the loss of a young life is an immeasurable tragedy. For the injured passengers, the road to recovery may bring further physical and emotional challenges.

Authorities say the circumstances surrounding the crash began with drinking and ended in a violent collision that changed several lives forever.

The case serves as another sobering reminder that driving under the influence can have devastating consequences—not only for the person behind the wheel, but also for passengers, families and entire communities.

Source: Law&Crime