DA: Safe Clear driver had cocaine in his system

More on the deaths of Leon and Maurine Roberson, the couple who were killed Oct. 18 when a speeding wrecker driver broadsided their car: Assistant Harris County DA Warren Diepraam says the wrecker driver, Sergio Gonzalez, had cocaine in his system at the time of the crash. Gonzalez hit the Robersons' car as they left church in the 11800 block of Wallisville Road; according to reports, Gonzalez was going 20 or 25 mph above the 45-mph speed limit on that stretch of road at the time of the crash. Though the amount of cocaine in Gonzalez's system wasn't high enough for prosecutors to file intoxication manslaughter charges against him, he does face a manslaughter charge for the presence of cocaine coupled with excessive speed and a failure to take evasive action. "This is another example of reckless driving in Harris County that resulted in the deaths of these two people," Diepraam told the Chronicle.

Questions still remain about how Gonzalez, who was a driver in the city's Safe Clear towing program, got a license despite a criminal history that included several drunk driving convictions and a 2002 felony drug possession conviction. Criticism of the licensing process, which some said was too lax, along with the deaths of the Robersons led the city to announce that it would enforce licensing rules more closely last fall. As for Gonzalez, his lawyer, Todd Overstreet, said he wouldn't have been indicted of manslaughter in the Roberson case if not for his criminal record. "This is a terrible, tragic accident that shouldn't have resulted in criminal charges," Overstreet told the Chronicle. "I think the grand jury made the wrong decision."

KHOU reports that the Robersons' family will meet with prosecutors today to discuss the case. "The bottom line is, I would just like justice for my parents because they didn't deserve this at all," Kenneth Roberson, one of Leon and Maurine Roberson's sons. "They were beautiful people."