William Johnson: Drunk When He Caused Five-Car Fatal Accident, Cops Say; Bayou Body Count No. 43

A drunk driver killed a 43-year-old man when he ran a red light and triggered a five-car pile-up, Houston police say.

William Thomas Johnson, 48, was driving his GMC Sierra pickup on the northbound Eastex Freeway service road when he ran a red light at Tidwell about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Houston police say.

And then:

The GMC then struck a blue Volkswagen Jetta traveling eastbound on Tidwell. The Jetta then struck a gold Toyota Camry, along with two other vehicles, a white Chevrolet and a white Cadillac, traveling westbound on Tidwell.

A passenger in the Jetta, a 43-year-old man whose name has not been released, was killed. The driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Johnson has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.

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This article appears in Apr 12-18, 2012.