EDCOUCH – On April 5, 2024, a Hidalgo County jury found Mitchell Garcia Trevino, 39, of Edcouch, Texas,  guilty on two counts of Intoxication Manslaughter and one count of Intoxication Assault. 

On December 16, 2018, Trevino crashed his Ford F-250 into a Hidalgo County EMS ambulance. Evidence  at trial showed that Trevino was highly intoxicated and was driving at least 75 miles per hour seconds  before hitting the ambulance in a head on collision. 

The fatal accident claimed the lives of the EMS driver and the patient he was transporting. The EMS driver,  32-year old Felipe Huerta Jr., was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a Purple Heart Recipient.  Delia Cortines, 68, was the second victim of the intoxication manslaughter. Felipe Huerta’s wife and EMS  first responder, 30-year-old Andrea Rodriguez, survived the fatal crash but suffered traumatic injuries and  permanent brain damage. 

On April 8, 2024, a sentence was handed down by the jury of 30 years in prison for count 1, 20 years in  prison for count 2, and 10 years in prison for count 3. The jury trial was heard by Presiding State District  Judge Ismael D. Fonseca in the 476th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas. Judge Fonseca formally  sentenced Trevino on counts 1 and 2 to run concurrent and count 3 to run consecutive, for a total term of  40 years imprisonment in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 

“The jury’s verdict makes it clear that our community will not tolerate the loss of innocent lives due to the  senseless act of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated,” said Hidalgo County District Attorney Toribio  “Terry” Palacios. “Our office remains committed to seeking justice on behalf of those harmed by drunk  drivers and we urge the citizens of Hidalgo County to make plans while consuming alcohol to ensure that  you have a ride to get home safely.” 

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Edinburg Police Department. Assistant  District Attorney’s Michelle Puig and Michael Morris prosecuted the case.