FORT WORTH, Texas – A 19-year-old man accused of killing five people in a drunk driving incident on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth has been released on bond, according to court documents.
Eduardo Gonzalez is facing five counts of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the fatal incident on August 19. Gonzalez secured a $150,000 bond on each of the five charges and was freed from Tarrant County Jail on August 23, according to court records.
According to his bond conditions, he was forced to wear an alcohol monitor on his ankle and refrain from using illegal drugs.
According to the district court’s website, Tarrant County judges release people based on five factors: their ability to pay, the substance of the offense, and community safety.
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WFAA contacted Magistrate Brooke Panuthos Monday afternoon to learn more about her decision to grant Gonzalez restricted driving privileges but has yet to hear back from her as of Monday evening.
Police said Gonzalez was heading north on I-35W when he collided with the back of a vehicle, causing it to take fire. Police reported that all five persons in the vehicle died.
The victims were identified as Willie Gunn, his girlfriend Amber Hopewell, and Hopewell’s three small children.
Gonzalez was detained on the spot and charged with driving drunk at the time of the incident. Police have not revealed Gonzalez’s alleged blood-alcohol level at the time of the incident.
He was driving a Chevrolet Camaro when he rear-ended the victim’s vehicle, police said. Security cameras at a neighboring motel saw the victims’ car exploding around 12:05 a.m., shortly after the incident.
According to a Fort Worth police spokesperson, the car was so heavily charred that investigators were originally unable to determine the victims’ ages.
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Jacresia Gunn says her family is saddened all over again when the guy charged with killing her uncle in the crash was released from jail.
“It hit my family hard, and we are devastated,” Jacresia Gunn said. “He’s able to bond with his family again, they able to hold him, they able to talk to him, they able to comfort him, you know, And we can’t like we can’t do none of that.” Gunn’s family reported he and Hopewell were driving for DoorDash when the accident occurred.
“It’s so unexpected, which is what makes it such a tragedy because we never expected this to happen,” said Wilbert Gunn, Willie’s older brother. “This is just shocking to me what we’re going through right now.”
When Fort Worth community leader Daryl Washington learned Gonzalez’s age and that police believe alcohol had a role in the incident, he expressed worry because Gonzalez was under the legal buying age. “I believe we need to crack down on the people who sell children this booze. “And I believe our law enforcement is doing everything they can,” Washington remarked.
Washington said he does not believe conditional driving privileges are in the public’s best interests because Gonzalez is accused of killing five people in a car accident.
“What are you going to do, drive, and go hurt somebody else?” Daryl Washington stated, “It could be you, it could be me, it could be one of our kids.”
Jacresia Gunn is helping with her uncle’s funeral arrangements. They are working closely with the Tree of Life Funeral Home in Fort Worth to plan a Celebration of Life service for Willie Gunn.
The family has also established a GoFundMe page to help cover some of the funeral costs. Still, she and her family want to know why his accused killer is back on the streets.