On July 20, 2016, at approximately 7:10pm, the New Braunfels Police Department and the New Braunfels Fire Department were called to the 1200 block of East Common Street for reports of a single vehicle crash with injuries. Witnesses reported that a vehicle had struck a utility pole, caught fire, and that bystanders were pulling the two occupants from the burning vehicle.
Officers and firefighters arrived to find a 2013 Chevy Impala fully engulfed in flames with the two occupants safely removed from the vehicle. Paramedics began treating the two occupants while firefighters began putting out the vehicle fire. That area of East Common Street was completely closed for about an hour while crews finished extinguishing the flames, cleaned up the scene of the crash, and NBU was called to the scene to handle issues stemming from the damaged utility pole.
Meanwhile, New Braunfels EMS transported the driver of the vehicle to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital New Braunfels. After being medically cleared by hospital staff, the driver, identified as 38-year old DeeAnn Lynn Harmon of Burleson, TX, was taken into custody, transported to the Comal County Jail, and charged with DWI. The passenger in the vehicle, identified as 51-year old Leanna Elizabeth Gardner of Burleson, TX, was treated by EMS at the scene and then taken into custody, transported to the Comal County Jail, and charged with Public Intoxication. As of this release, both Harmon and Gardner remain in custody.
The preliminary accident investigation shows that the crash occurred due to excessive speed and impaired driving while the vehicle was traveling up the hill on Common Street towards Loop 337. The driver failed to navigate a curve in the road and struck the utility pole. Further charges may be pending as the investigation into this incident continues.