One Dead, Two in Jail After Fatal Auto Wreck in Muldoon

A crash near Muldoon early Saturday morning, July 12, left one person dead and two in jail. The wreck occurred near the intersection of FM 2237 and Boon Ln., about a half mile south of Muldoon. Muldoon Volunteer Fire Department got a call reporting the crash around 2:30 a.m.

Upon arrival, Muldoon Fire Chief Stephen Kelly said firefighters found a pickup that rolled over with one deceased passenger. Kelly said the driver and another injured passenger were out of the pickup when firefighters got there. Fayette County EMS arrived, and first responders set up a helicopter landing zone at Muldoon Fire Station. The injured passenger was taken there by ambulance and then flown by a PHI medical helicopter to Dell Seton Hospital in Austin for treatment.

Kelly said firefighters remained on the scene for about six hours that morning to block traffic while Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducted a crash investigation.

DPS Sgt. Darryl Tidwell said a major, multi-agency investigation is still underway. The Record obtained the arrest affidavits for the two individuals arrested in connection with the fatal wreck.

The driver of the pickup, 31-year-old Brittani Danielle Banks, was arrested for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. Her arrest affidavit stated that she was driving a 2008 Chevy pickup and tried passing another vehicle, a 2011 BMW, in a no-passing zone. The pickup struck the BMW while passing, went off the roadway and rolled over. The BMW left the scene.

The affidavit stated that the deceased passenger in the pickup was Melissa Beck. Beck was a 29-year-old from Sheridan, according to an obituary from Henneke Funeral Home.

Banks’ arrest affidavit went on to say that the arresting officer conducted a field sobriety test and a breath test and then took her to Ascension Seton Hospital in Smithville for a blood test. After that, she was charged with intoxication manslaughter and booked into the Fayette County Jail.

The driver of the BMW, 34-year-old Raymon Julian Rodriguez, was arrested for failure to stop and render aid and driving while intoxicated. According to his arrest affidavit, Rodriguez did not stop to help anyone in the Chevy nor did he call 911 to report the crash. Law enforcement later located Rodriguez and took him to the Fayette County Jail. Once there, a field sobriety test and breath test were conducted, which resulted in the DWI charge.

Both Banks and Rodriguez have since bonded out of jail.