Martin Co., Texas - News: Stanton woman indicted ================================================ Submitted to the Martin County, TXGenWeb by: Michelle White ================================================ Stanton woman indicted in connection with fatal traffic accident STANTON, TEXAS - A woman now faces charges in connection with an October, 2005, accident that killed one boy and injured another. A Martin County grand jury met last week, and indicted Kulie Luna for 'intoxication manslaughter.' The 35-year-old is also charged with 'manslaughter' and 'criminally negligent homicide.' Luna allegedly struck and killed 11-year-old Michael Almanza as he was getting onto his school bus. The accident happened last October, along the access road of Interstate Highway 20, right in front of the child's house. Michael's older brother, Brandon, was also struck, but he survived. Most people, it was pointed out, associate the phrase, 'intoxication manslaughter' with alcohol and drunk driving ... but that's not the case in this accident. According to Martin County Assistant District Attorney Robin Orr, the indictment alleges Luna was driving while intoxicated from taking an amphetamine. The victim, Michael Almanza would have turned twelve later this month. Pictures are all his family has, to remember their child. He was, they say, boy who loved to play football ... and who had scored his first touchdown just a week before he was struck and killed. It was early on the morning of October 28th, when Almanza and his brother brandon left their house, to walk over to a waiting Stanton school bus. "They were coming across the road to get on the bus," Texas department of Public Safety Trooper Jimmy Matthies reported at the time. But, the boys never made it aboard the bus. State troopers say Luna - and her vehicle - got in their way. She was on the service road, heading to Midland," Mathies described, "and didn't notice any individuals out there, or any lights flashing on the bus." NewsWest 9 visited Luna's home, to get her side of the story. But, no one answered the knock at door. Court documents show Luna lives just across the street from the school where Almanza attended class. "It is a tragedy," Superintendent David Carr, of the Stanton Independent School District, acknowledged, the day of the accident. "Anytime something like this takes place, it is a tragedy." Now, more than six months later, some of the pain is gone. But, it was admitted, the Almanza family is still hurting, and say they are looking forward to this case going to trial. That, NewsWest 9 was told, will happen this fall. If convicted, Luna could face up to twenty years in prison.