Third Victim Dies From Suspected Drunk Driving SXSW Accident

by uInterviewMarch 17, 2014, 12:00 am >

A third person has died as a result of the SXSW car accident Thursday, March 13, that left two dead on sight.

Sandy Thuy Le, 26, died of injuries she suffered during the incident, though no details have been released as to her cause of death or when, exactly, she died. Le was one of the ten or so of people injured in the accident who were hospitalized with critical injuries.

Jamie West, 27, and Steven Craenmehr, 35, were both killed at the scene after a car bulldozed through a crowd of SXSW Festival attendees. Driver Rashad Charjuan Owens, 21, is suspected of drunk driving when he burst through a barricade and into a crowd of people, killing West and Craenmehr and injuring at least 20 others. Owens crashed and was captured by police. He is currently in custody, being held on a $3 million bail. He has been charged with 2 counts of capital murder and 23 counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle. Reports state that seven victims are currently still hospitalized and being treated.

Owens suffered minor injuries from his crash and was treated at a hospital where he was also subjected to an alcohol blood test before being taken into custody. The results from the blood test have not yet been released, but a breath test reportedly showed that Owens had a blood alcohol level of .114 at the time of the crash. The legal limit is .08.

In response to the tragedy, SXSW organized the SXSW Cares Fund intended to raise money to help those affected by the accident. According to their official website, SXSW Cares Fund has raised over $74,000.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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