Share and Follow
Inset: Tionne Spears (Bexar County Jail). Background: The State Highway 211 near Lambada Drive in San Antonio, Texas, where Spears allegedly ran over a man”s body (Google Maps).
Tionne Spears, aged 26, has been charged with driving while intoxicated, abuse of a corpse, and possession of a controlled substance following the incident.
The chaotic event unfolded on Friday night along State Highway 211 near Lambada Drive in San Antonio. According to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, a 61-year-old pedestrian was initially hit by a vehicle’s side mirror, which knocked him to the ground. A second vehicle, unable to stop in time, tragically ran over the man, resulting in his death. Investigators have determined that neither of the first two drivers was at fault.
As law enforcement officials secured the scene and began their investigation, Spears allegedly drove through the barricades, ran over the victim’s body, and narrowly missed hitting the deputies present. This reckless act prompted immediate concern and action from the authorities, as reported by Sheriff Salazar.
Cops cordoned off the area, covered the body and began investigating the crash when a third driver, later identified as Spears, came barreling into the crime scene, running over the man’s body and narrowly avoiding deputies, according to Salazar.
Spears was taken into custody. Deputies believe Spears was under the influence of khat, a plant native to Africa known to give users “a sense of bravado” and increase their pain tolerance, Salazar said. The sheriff noted it gained notoriety after the movie “Black Hawk Down” depicted its use by men attacking U.S. troops.
“Thankfully our investigators were not hurt,” Salazar said. “But again it’s unfortunate that this poor victim, who’d already been through a lot obviously, had his body run over as a result of this lady’s level of intoxication and her unawareness of where she was.”
Spears was taken to the Bexar County Jail and has since posted a $14,100 bond. She has a court date set for March 30.