Wichita Falls Police Officer Involved in Fatal Crash Had Two Drugs In System
A newly released toxicology report shows that a former Wichita Falls Police officer had two distinct substances in his system the night of a fatal collision. The Texas Department of Public Safety investigation has revealed that officer Teddie Whitefield had a prescription strength diet drug and Xanax in his system on the the evening of June 30, 2011, when he collided with a Pontiac Grand Am at around 9 pm. Whitefield was headed north on Jacksboro Highway when he struck the Grand Am broadside at over 80 miles per hour, killing 18 year old Yeni Lopez and 13 year old Gloria Montoya, as well as Lopez' unborn child.
Whitefield reportedly admitted to taking the drugs earlier in the day when confronted by his supervisors on the evening of the crash. Whitefield was also allegedly involved in a low speed rear end collision with another vehicle on Jacksboro Highway just hours before the fatal crash. Whitefield was given an indefinite suspension back in August and is effectively no longer with the WFPD. The case has been presented to the Wichita County District Attorney's Office, but no charges have been filed as yet. Police have indicated that neither the teens nor Whitefield were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Whitefield was not en route to a call at the time of the high speed crash.