San Antonio police are investigating a fatal crash on North Loop 1604 West that killed a 22-year-old passenger early Sunday morning.
The vehicle struck a concrete support pillar at about 2:11 a. m.
, according to police reports.
The driver, also 22, was found intoxicated and unbelted during the collision.
Police responded to the 4600 block of North Loop 1604 West and determined the driver was speeding before losing control, according to KSAT.
The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The identity of the passenger has not been released.
San Antonio police said the investigation remains ongoing and details could change as additional information becomes available.
Seat Belt and Intoxication Findings
Investigators noted that neither person in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt at the time of impact, according to KSAT.
Texas Transportation Code Section 545.413 requires vehicle occupants to wear seat belts, with violations carrying misdemeanor fines of up to $200.
Police said the driver could face a charge under Texas Penal Code Section 49.08, which defines intoxication manslaughter as operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing another person's death.
The offense is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
The law applies when an intoxicated driver causes a death, including when the victim is a passenger in the driver's own vehicle.
The investigation has not resulted in a final charging decision.
The crash occurred in an area involved in the Texas Department of Transportation's $1.4 billion Loop 1604 Expansion Project, according to MySA.
The project includes widening the corridor from four to ten main lanes and adding elevated structures.
Recent crashes in the San Antonio area have also involved impaired or reckless driving.
Hoodline reported that a September case involved a 10-year sentence for intoxication manslaughter after a crash that killed a passenger.
Bexar County recorded 1,621 alcohol-related crashes in 2025 that caused 46 fatalities, according to data compiled by Ryan Orsatti Law.
Statewide, alcohol-involved crashes caused 1,053 deaths in 2024, according to the Texas Traffic Records Coordinating Committee.
University Health System's Level I trauma center in San Antonio treats roughly 250 patients annually for injuries from drunk driving collisions, averaging about 20 victims per month, according to previous Hoodline reporting.
San Antonio police continue reviewing the Loop 1604 crash.
