23 drivers charged in deadly DWI wrecks in Harris County for 2019, records show

>> Click through the following gallery to see mugshots of 20 people arrested on intoxication manslaughter cases in Harris County during 2019. >> Click through the following gallery to see mugshots of 20 people arrested on intoxication manslaughter cases in Harris County during 2019. Photo: Houston Chronicle Photo: Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close 23 drivers charged in deadly DWI wrecks in Harris County for 2019, records show 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

Houston is known for its deadly roads, and these arrests showcase a danger posed to Houstonians on a daily basis: intoxicated driving.

Police in Houston and throughout Harris County have charged 23 people for causing deadly wrecks while allegedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol in 2019, according to court records. These nearly two dozen individuals are accused in the deaths of 25 people on roadways in Houston and Harris County.

In 2018, 121 people – including drivers themselves and innocent victims – died on roadways in Harris County because of alcohol-related crashes, according to data from the Texas Department of Transportation. That same year, authorities called Harris County “ground zero” for intoxicated driving crashes in a scathing report by the Houston Chronicle on Houston-area roadways.

OUT OF CONTROL: Houston is ‘ground zero’ for drunken and drugged driving

In Texas, causing a fatal crash while intoxicated will most likely land you in jail on a felony intoxication manslaughter charge, which can send drivers to prison for up to 20 years. Of the 23 people charged with intoxication manslaughter for deadly DWI crashes in 2019, all but one have been arrested.

Authorities are still searching for Roberto Emilio Bali Jr., 51, who allegedly caused a single-vehicle crash that killed his passenger, Narhan Diaz, in north Harris County on April 1. Bali fled the crash before police arrived, but investigators have since linked him to the crash, according to court records.

Chron.com compiled the list of drivers accused of driving while intoxicated in deadly wrecks. Of the 22 drivers who have been arrested, mugshots for the following individuals were not available by press time:

Eloy Mercado, 22, charged with intoxication manslaughter in the July 28 deaths of Vu Khong and Steven

Jahson Trevone Albert, 25, charged with intoxication manslaughter in the Sept. 26 death of Jacquelyn Pleytez

See the rest of the drivers accused in deadly DWI wrecks in the gallery above.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com