A quick-thinking passenger tipped DPS troopers off to a potentially dangerous situation Thursday evening, leading to a felony DWI arrest.
County 911 dispatch reportedly received a series of texts from a Como woman who was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Carla Amanda Renee Moore, 40, of Dallas. The passenger advised Moore was extremely intoxicated, swerving and driving over the center line on State Highway 11 east, heading toward Sulphur Springs from Como.
The passenger also informed 911 via text that she had watched Moore consume more than half a bottle of whiskey. She explained that Moore was driving from “the lake” to buy swim toys for her two children. The passenger allegedly got into the car to protect Moore’s children, ages 4 and 5, who were also in the vehicle, and advise law enforcement of their current location.
The vehicle was stopped for speeding at 9:30 p.m. just east of FM 1567.
Arrest reports described Moore as very argumentative and having glassy, bloodshot eyes. Trooper Saathoff alleged she was able to detect the odor of alcohol on Moore’s breath before coming within 3 feet of the woman. Moore reportedly claimed she “only had one little shot” approximately one hour prior to the stop and was not drunk.
Moore allegedly failed standard field sobriety tests and was arrested for felony driving while intoxicated with children younger than age 15 in the vehicle. She reportedly became belligerent and argumentative, continuously interrupting the trooper’s reading of the statutory warning.
Moore reportedly had what appeared to be a seizure. She was transported to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Sulphur Springs for medical clearance, where she allegedly attempted to leave the hospital before being safely recovered and booked into jail on the DWI charge.
Moore’s children were placed with an appropriate family member, and the passenger was transported back to her home in Como.
Bond was set at $5,000, and she was released later the same day.