Sunday, May 19, 2024
AZLE — Azle resident Donald Read (known alias Donald Reed) was sentenced to 60 years in prison after a felony conviction hearing in March. Read has been arrested for driving while under the influence six separate times since 1988. He was previously sentenced to 15 years and 25 years after his fourth and fifth DWI arrests in 2006 and 2013, respectively. The Tarrant County District Clerk’s website shows Read was on parole by 2011 and 2021 after his two convictions.
Read, age 64, has previously been booked by local police for marijuana possession, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, unlawfully carrying a weapon and driving with a suspended license. The 60-year sentence was issued after Read’s most recent DWI, which occurred August 25, 2023. Read is currently in custody at Tarrant County Jail.
In Texas, DWIs are classified as misdemeanors until the third repeated instance. Even then, the state has a checkered history of releasing inmates on early parole for felony DWIs. In 2022, a Galveston case made headlines after a man killed a 14-year-old in an alcohol-fueled car accident just eight hours after being paroled for a felony DWI.
While no one was reported to be harmed as a result of Read’s drunk driving, local law enforcement saw his arrest as a success in removing dangerous offenders from Azle roadways. After Read’s conviction, the Azle Police Department took to Facebook to congratulate the officers responsible for Read’s capture.
“In a notable incident that underscores the department's commitment to public safety, Officer Gallardo of the Azle Police Department demonstrated exceptional diligence,” the post read. “During the early hours of Friday, August 25, 2023, Sgt. Gilbert stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. Shortly after, Officer Gallardo arrived on scene and conducted a thorough investigation into a suspect, Donald Read, for driving while intoxicated. The investigation's thoroughness led to (Read’s) arrest for Driving While Intoxicated, highlighting the department's unwavering stance against such dangerous behavior . . . This outcome not only serves as a testament to the solid evidence gathered during the initial investigation but also sends a clear message about the severe consequences of drunk driving. It's commendable how Officer Gallardo handled the investigation, showcasing his dedication to the safety and well-being of the citizens we serve. This case exemplifies the importance of the Azle Police Department in maintaining public safety and the serious stance taken against those who jeopardize it through reckless actions.”
A recent analysis by Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers leveraged data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spanning the years 2017 to 2021 and found Texas roadways are some of the most impacted by drunk driving. The study found Texas had the highest percentages of drivers exceeding the legal blood alcohol concentration or BAC limits based on reported fatal drunk driving incidents. More than four of every 10 Texas drivers involved in a fatal crash had a BAC of more than 0.08 g/dL. Over the five-year period that was measured, 11,185 of 27,392 drivers (40.83%) involved in fatal accidents were over the limit, while 7,682 (28.04%) surpassed 0.15 g/dL.
