Driver indicted in deadly Harlingen tow truck crash

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) —  The driver accused in the death of a tow truck driver in Harlingen has been indicted, Cameron County court records show.

On Sept. 17, 2025, 28-year-old Cristobal Stephan Garzez was indicted on charges of manslaughter, collision involving death and possession of a controlled substance of less than one gram.

READ ALSO: Tow truck drivers honor David Zapata, push for safety awareness

Garzez is scheduled for a bond reduction hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 13 and an arraignment hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 4.

Cristobal Stephan Garzez was arrested in connection with a deadly crash involving a tow truck driver. (Photo courtesy of Cameron County)

Background

Just after 5 p.m. on July 8, 2025, on IH-2 east of FM 506, a tow truck driver, identified as 46-year-old David Zapata, was standing outside his 2010 Black Hino Tow Truck, securing another vehicle into the tow truck in the shoulder lane.

Garzez was driving a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck going westbound on IH-2 and rammed into the back of a tow truck, subsequently killing David Zapata, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by ValleyCentral.

Zapata was standing behind the tow truck at the time that he was struck by Garzez.

Following the crash, Garzez did not pull over to render aid to Zapata, documents allege. Instead, he kept driving with blood splatter covering his vehicle from the front passenger door to the end of the truck bed.

Garzez was found on West Frontage Road, North of Beddos Road, shortly after the fatal crash.

Troopers found a white-powdery substance in his truck. When authorities spoke with Garzez about the incident and asked why he did not stop, he replied that he was scared.

A field sobriety test was conducted on Garzez at the time of his arrest due to indications that he may have been under the influence of drugs, authorities said. They did not believe he had been drinking, but his eyes appeared to show constricted pupils.

“Garzez was eager to provide a breath sample [but] was hesitant to provide a blood sample,” the affidavit detailed.

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• Driver accused of killing tow truck owner said he was too scared to render aid
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