In a bizarre and tragic turn of events, a 31-year-old Dallas-area driver, Nestor Joel Lujan Flores, has been arrested on charges of fatally striking a pedestrian and driving approximately 40 miles before parking at a restaurant.
Upon discovery by the police, Lujan Flores claimed he believed he had hit an animal. This shocking incident has perplexed authorities and the community, raising questions about the driver’s awareness and responsibility.
Intoxication Manslaughter
The incident unfolded around 11:15 p.m. on a Saturday night when police found Lujan Flores slumped over the steering wheel of a Kia Forte in a White Settlement restaurant parking lot.
The vehicle exhibited extensive damage to its hood and windshield, indicating a severe collision.
Lujan Flores, previously convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2021 in nearby Collin County, is now facing charges of intoxication manslaughter.
According to White Settlement police, the impact of the accident was so severe that the pedestrian was thrown inside the vehicle and came to rest on the passenger seat.
The driver, however, claimed to have believed he had struck an animal in Dallas and continued driving to the parking lot without notifying authorities of the incident.
The discovery of the incident was prompted by a concerned citizen who reported the damaged vehicle to the police. Upon arrival, an officer saw what appeared to be a human body in the front passenger seat with no signs of life.
Shockingly, Lujan Flores had not notified police or emergency responders about the incident, leaving authorities to unravel the mystery.
Upon discovering the scene, police initiated a search for the crash site, contacting several law enforcement agencies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Information from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office eventually led them to a crash on the westbound service road of Interstate 30 near Cockrell Hill Road in Dallas County, approximately 38 miles from the restaurant where Lujan Flores and the victim were found.
Police reported finding human remains near the roadway that potentially matched the victim’s body recovered from inside the vehicle. As a result, the criminal case will be transferred for prosecution to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
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A Hit-and-Run Case
As the investigation unfolds, authorities have secured a blood search warrant to determine Lujan Flores’ level of impairment at the time of the incident. The results are pending, and the accused remains in White Settlement jail. It is unclear if he has retained legal representation.
White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook expressed astonishment at the unprecedented nature of the case, stating that in his 28 years in law enforcement, he has never seen a similar incident.
Cook emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the driver’s failure to recognize the victim as a human being and seek help reflects a significant impairment.
The tragic incident involving Nestor Joel Lujan Flores underscores the potential consequences of impaired driving and the importance of responsible actions in the aftermath of an accident.
As the investigation continues, the community awaits further details, and the legal system will determine the appropriate consequences for this shocking hit-and-run case.
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