By Susan Lindsey
Staff Reporter
A Maud woman is facing intoxicated manslaughter for a June drunk driving accident that resulted in the death of a passenger she refused to identify, officials said.
Stephanie Fannin, 51, of Maud, was charged with intoxicated manslaughter after her F-150 crashed into a ditch on State Highway 8.
Fannin was traveling south when she ran off the roadway in a curve and crashed into a line of trees and came to a stop in the ditch, said Sgt. Ethan Sartor, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman.
The passenger, Matthew Sherman, 32, of Linden, Texas, died at the scene from injuries.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Sherman had not been identified at the time he was pronounced.
DPS Trooper Landon Simmons responded to the dispatched call. He stated in the affidavit Fannin was asked several times to identify her passenger. She allegedly refused to answer and said she “did not remember,” the affidavit said.
Multiple beer cans were found in the cab of the truck and around the scene and “the odor of alcohol was detected” coming from the truck, the affidavit stated.
Fannin was taken by LifeNet to CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System for treatment of possible injuries.
A Texarkana, Texas, police officer was dispatched to the hospital after staff called because Fannin was allegedly “causing a disturbance”, the affidavit said.
The responding officer noted “Fannin’s speech was slurred and heavy, her eyes were glassy and bloodshot red and he could smell the distinct odor of alcohol coming from her breath,” the affidavit said.
Fannin was read her Miranda rights but refused to speak with officers and requested a lawyer. She also refused to take a field sobriety test and to provide a blood sample.
A warrant was issued for a blood sample at the hospital.
The TTPD officer stated medical staff said Fannin admitted to consuming alcohol and refused medical treatment, the affidavit said.
Fannin was taken to Bi-State Justice Center. Her bail was set at $1.5 million.
Intoxicated manslaughter is a second degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in a state prison and a fine up to $10,000.
