Truck driver accused of driving drunk in fatal 2022 East Freeway crash has case dismissed

HOUSTON – A truck driver accused of driving under the influence after he was involved in a chain reaction crash that led to the death of a woman on the East Freeway in 2022 has had his case dismissed.

Court records show the intoxication manslaughter case against Pablo Isai Frias was dismissed due to “insufficient evidence of the suspect’s guilt.”

Frias was charged with intoxication manslaughter and given a $100,000 bond for the April 2022 crash.

According to Houston Police, a tan Chevrolet Tahoe, a Kenworth tractor-trailer, a Ford Transit and a Peterbilt tractor-trailer were all traveling eastbound near the 7800 block of the East Freeway around 11:35 a.m. on Monday, April 18.

The Transit stopped due to traffic on the highway and the Kenworth came to a stop behind it.

The Tahoe, driven by a 30-year-old woman, possibly attempted to move into another lane and struck the rear of the trailer attached to the Kenworth.

The Peterbilt, driven by Frias, then struck the rear of the Tahoe.

The woman in the Tahoe was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time, investigators said Frias, a 12-year-old truck driver, was unstable and smelled of alcohol. Frias allegedly admitted to the police that he had drunk approximately 350 ml of beer the night before. Police said they believe he took a depressant.