A Wichita Falls man, Anastacio Mendoza Bemol, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in a deadly crash that happened over two years ago. The fatal accident took place at the intersection of Loop 11 and Seymour Highway on March 16, 2023, and led to the death of 68-year-old Diane Luckett.
Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter
On Friday, March 21, 2025, Bemol, aged 39, pleaded guilty in the 78th District Court to the second-degree felony charge of manslaughter. Judge Meredith Kennedy handed down the sentence, which includes credit for 737 days that Bemol has already spent in jail.
The case was delayed for over a year after Bemol was declared mentally unfit to stand trial in February 2024.
Details of the Deadly Crash
According to police, the crash occurred when a Mercedes-Benz traveling eastbound on Seymour Highway was attempting to turn left at Loop 11. Bemol, who was driving a Ford pickup, was heading westbound on the same road.
Investigators said Bemol ran a red light at high speed, crashing into the Mercedes. Witnesses confirmed that the Mercedes had the right of way and that Bemol didn’t stop at the red signal. The accident caused major damage to both vehicles and led to life-threatening injuries for both drivers.
Victim Later Died from Injuries
The driver of the Mercedes, Diane Luckett, was taken to United Regional hospital and later moved to a hospital in Lubbock due to the severity of her injuries. She died on March 25, 2023, nine days after the crash. Following her death, Bemol’s original charge of intoxication assault was upgraded to manslaughter.
Bemol’s Behavior at the Scene
Police described Bemol’s behavior at the scene as aggressive and erratic. He had a deep cut on his forehead and was bleeding heavily, but refused medical help, yelling at paramedics and police officers. When asked what happened, he said, “You tell me what the [expletive] happened,” and then began speaking only in Spanish.
A Spanish-speaking female officer tried to assist, but Bemol was inappropriately flirtatious and asked personal questions. Officers noted that his emotions were unstable and his mood kept changing rapidly.
History of Drug Use and Erratic Behavior
According to the affidavit, Bemol’s former employer came to the scene and informed officers that he had fired Bemol recently due to erratic behavior, which started after Bemol began using illegal drugs.
Later, Bemol’s wife confirmed to police that they had separated in January 2023 due to his addiction to cocaine and methamphetamine. She described several instances where Bemol had acted dangerously under the influence.