2010 CAMARO DESTROYED IN FATAL WRECK …passenger killed, driver injured (Photo courtey of Kingsville Police Department) An early morning single car traffic accident Friday has left one man dead and another in serious condition.

The passenger in the vehicle, Fernando Soto, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene by Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Andy Gonzales.

The driver, Mario Montelongo, 22, was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg and then transferred to Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi where he is in serious condition, Chief of Police Ricardo Torres said in press release.

Officers responded to the one car accident in the 300 block of West King at 2:29 a.m. after the accident was reported at 2:28 a.m. by an On Star operator.

“Upon arrival, Patrolman Tomas Davis noticed a red 2010 Chevrolet Camaro up in the yard of 313 W. King on the south side of the street,” the chief said.

The vehicle was traveling east on King when the driver lost control of the vehicle due to the wet road and excessive speed, the chief said.

“The vehicle then hit the south curb and traveled 106 feet in the grass going airborne and into the yard, striking a tree with the driver’s side area of the car,” he said.

“It then wrapped around the tree, striking a brick and concrete extension of the residence and finally coming to rest.”

Officers at the scene believe that alcohol was a major factor in this accident due to the presence of it on the occupants’ persons, according to Torres.

“The occupants were still wearing a night club bracelet identifying him as an adult,” the chief noted.

Davis was finishing up at the accident scene when he was nearly struck by another vehicle, Torres said.

The driver of the vehicle, Michael Flores, 21, was also intoxicated, the chief said.

“He was placed under arrest by Officer Davis and transported to the Kleberg County Jail for the offense of driving while intoxicated,” Torres said.

“This is the second accident in our community in the last month and a half that has resulted in the death of some of our community’s young people due to alcohol abuse,” the chief said in his press statement.

The other accident occurred on New Year’s Eve. The Kingsville Police Department will continue its investigation of the Friday morning fatal accident with the possibility of filing charges of intoxication manslaughter against the driver with the Kleberg-Kenedy County District Attorney’s Office as soon as the investigation is completed and test results are received.

Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony punishable by imprisonment up to 20 years and a $10,000 fine.

Chief Torres said he wants to remind the operators of establishments where alcohol is served that their servers have a responsibility not to serve intoxicated citizens, and he reminds the citizens, “Don’t Drink and Drive!”

Torres also said that for the past several weeks, Kingsville police officers have been utilizing specialized patrol methods to enforce alcohol-related laws, especially DWI laws.

The patrol division has been utilizing what it calls saturation patrol methods support by other police department bureaus.

“This has netted 25 arrests for driving while intoxicated and driving under the influence by KPD officers during that time period.”