SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The suspect blamed for a fatal crash on the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway has previous convictions and arrests, including for driving under the influence, according to court documents acquired by ValleyCentral.com.

Hugo Ernesto Lara, 48, was arrested on a charge of intoxication manslaughter in connection to the June 2 crash that claimed the life of 20-year-old Mariah Desiree Enriquez of Edinburg.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at 1:45 a.m. Sunday on the causeway. DPS said a 2023 white Ford F-150, driven by Lara, was travelling westbound on the eastbound lane and crashed into the Kia driven by Enriquez. She died from her injuries at the scene.

^{Hugo Ernesto Lara was charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. (Source: Cameron County Sheriff's Office inmate list)}

Previous offenses:

2003 — DWI conviction

This was not Lara's first arrest for driving under the influence. At 2:45 a.m. on June 7, 2003, a McAllen police officer clocked Lara driving 45mph in a 30mph zone at the 1500 block of W. Nolana.

When the officer asked Lara to step out of the vehicle, he had an "unsteady balance," and was using the door to balance himself, a criminal complaint stated. Lara then reportedly failed a field sobriety test and would not cooperate when police asked him to use a breathalyzer.

Lara said he was travelling back home and had one or two drinks. Records show that he was sentenced to 90 days in county jail with another 10 months of probation.

2003 — Assault conviction

Lara was arrested again 20 days after the DWI arrest on a charge of assault. In the early morning hours of June 27, 2003, police met with a man who had blood on the left side of his face at 601 E. Nolana Avenue. The man told police that he accidentally spilled a beer on Lara, who then punched him in the face with a closed fist, an offense report stated.

It was later determined that the victim's cheekbone had been cracked as a result of the assault, an offense report stated.

Lara was sentenced to 10 months in the Hidalgo County Jail with another 10 months of probation in this case.

2016 — Resisting arrest

In April 2016, Lara was arrested by McAllen police on charges of assault of a public servant and hindering apprehension or prosecution of a known felon, records show.

An indictment stated that Lara injured a McAllen police officer by "strangling him with his hand and/or striking him with his hand."

Lara pleaded guilty to resisting arrest or transport and was given deferred adjudication, including two years of probation.

2019 — DWI dismissal

Another criminal complaint stated that on June 29, 2019, Lara was arrested for driving while intoxicated (2nd). This case was dismissed after a motion to suppress was granted. Records show that prior to the dismissal, subpoenas were filed for three Palmhurst police officers, but they were never served.

Latest charges

On Wednesday, it was announced that Enriquez's family had filed a lawsuit against Lara, claiming wrongful death and negligence on Lara's part. A news release from their legal team referenced Lara's criminal past, and claimed that he was celebrating a friend's birthday on South Padre Island on the night of the deadly crash.

Officials with the Cameron County Jail told ValleyCentral that Lara has been released from jail on a $350,000 bond.

Records show that conditions of Lara's bond include using an interlock device, which is a breathalyzer that is installed into a vehicle. It requires the driver to submit a breath sample before they can start the vehicle.