By Kim Hilsenbeck
Monday’s fatal crash on FM 1626 in northern Hays County ended with Buda realtor Jason Floyd Tarr, 37, being arrested for intoxication manslaughter, according to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper spokesperson Robbie Barrera.
Nancy Sterling-Dalton, 60, of Austin, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Barrera.
The crash, which happened at 8:01 p.m., occurred on the bridge at Lewis Lane and Eagle Nest near the Cimarron Park neighborhood. Authorities shut down FM 1626, a major artery, in both directions for roughly four hours while DPS troopers investigated the scene.
Barrera said Tarr was driving a 2009 Ford F150 southbound on FM 1626 when witnesses observed the vehicle weaving onto the shoulder and then crossing back across the center stripe, striking Sterling-Dalton’s 2006 Chrysler Sebring convertible. She was traveling northbound when the crash occurred.
At the time of the accident, the road conditions were dry and the weather was clear. The speed limit in that section of the road is 50 mph. That section of FM 1626 is under reconstruction but a lane in each direction is open.
According to DPS, Tarr sustained minor injuries and was transported to Seton Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin where he was treated and released. Tarr was subsequently arrested and booked into the Hays County Jail.
A check of public records shows Tarr was previously arrested for DWI in 2002 in Hays County. He received two years probation and 80 hours of community service for that offense.
Tarr’s criminal case records also indicate that was his second DWI arrest, but it is unclear at this time where his first DWI arrest took place.
Tarr was released on $150,000 surety bond from the Hays County Jail. DPS said as of Tuesday morning that Tarr’s blood alcohol level results were pending.
Updated – 12:14 p.m. Oct. 1, 2014
This version corrects an earlier version saying Jason Tarr was previously arrested for DWI in 2002, 2003 and 2005. That information was confirmed by a Hays County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. We apologize for the error.
