A Wichita Falls man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in a deadly traffic accident that took the life of a local woman in 2023.
Anastacio Bemol Mendoza, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Diane Hill Luckett, who died after the crash on Seymour Highway and Loop 11.
What Happened in the Crash?
The accident occurred on March 16, 2023, when Mendoza was driving a pickup truck at a high speed westbound on Seymour Highway. According to court documents, he ran a red light and crashed into Luckett’s vehicle, which was turning left onto Loop 11.
Diane Hill Luckett, aged 63 and a resident of Wichita Falls, suffered serious injuries and passed away on March 25, 2023, just days after the accident.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Mendoza was initially charged with intoxication assault with a vehicle, a third-degree felony. But after Luckett’s death, a Wichita County grand jury indicted him for manslaughter, a more serious second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
Court records indicate Mendoza was under the influence of narcotics or another illegal substance at the time of the crash, based on police observations and behavior.
Mental Health Evaluation Before Trial
Before pleading guilty, Mendoza was committed twice to a mental health facility. In both cases, he was found incompetent to stand trial until later evaluations cleared him to proceed.
Eventually, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Judge Meredith Kennedy of the 78th District Court to 17 years in prison. The judge also gave Mendoza credit for 737 days already spent in Wichita County Jail.
As of the latest update, Mendoza remains in custody at the Wichita County Jail.