Driver Takes Plea Deal in Fatal Crash at San Angelo Restaurant

SAN ANGELO— A San Angelo man agreed to a plea deal after crashing his vehicle into Peasant Village and killing his brother in 2019.

According to court documents, on November 16, 2019, at 1:26 a.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of West Beauregard Avenue and South Park Street regarding a major accident. It was stated that a male subject ran from the vehicle and was crossing the bridge over the Concho River. An officer eventually stopped the man at West Beauregard Avenue and Santa Fe Drive.

When officers were talking to the man, they could smell alcohol coming from his person. He had a difficult time standing and nearly fell onto a police cruiser after being handcuffed. Then, he said he was the driver of the crashed vehicle.

Back at the scene of the crash, a subject was being treated for serious injuries. When officers arrived, the subject, identified as Christian Bernal Martinez, was deceased from the crash.

Officers went back to the subject who ran, identified as Oscar Ivan Bernal, and was read his Miranda Rights. He understood and refused to answer questions at the time.

Bernal, who misidentified himself and was actually Oscar Martinez Bernal, 39, was transported to Shannon and continued to ask about his brother, who was the passenger in the crash that died. He stated again he was the driver of the vehicle but then asked for a lawyer.

Bernal was arrested and booked into the Tom Green County Jail on November 16, 2020, and charged with Intoxication Manslaughter with a Vehicle and Accident Involving Death. He was indicted on January 9, 2020.

In exchange for the guilty plea, Bernal was sentenced to eight years in prison for Intoxication Manslaughter with a Vehicle. The Accident Involving Injury charge was dismissed and two other charges for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury were unadjudicated.

Judge Jay Weatherby signed off on the plea deal.