A Texas driver accused of killing a college student in a drunken crash three years ago had a blood alcohol reading almost four times over the limit, according to a toxicology expert’s trial testimony Thursday.
Lynlee Pollis was allegedly driving at nearly twice the speed limit when she plowed through a red traffic light in Dallas, killing 19-year-old Southern Methodist University student Honor Wallace in September 2023, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Pollis, who was hospitalized at the time of the crash, reportedly had “glassy eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of alcoholic beverage,” the publication previously reported.
The now-27-year-old admitted drinking a single margarita infused with tequila shots while out with her husky named “Tequila” at a hip outdoor bar that’s also a dog park, Fox 4 reported.
Hours after the crash, testing showed Pollis had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.294%, according testimony by toxicology chemist Brittany Welch.
The legal limit to drive in Texas is 0.08%.
To reach a blood alcohol reading that high, Pollis likely would have consumed six to 11 standard alcoholic drinks — or three to five larger drinks or doubles, Welch testified.
But her defense attorneys, George Milner and Scott Palmer, claim Pollis’ blood evidence was tainted and probed witnesses on how it was collected, handled and stored, The News reported.
The defense, however, agreed Pollis was speeding and ran the red light but disputed that she was drunk.
Bodycam footage played in court showed Pollis standing without trouble and talking without slurring and multiple witnesses testified they didn’t smell booze on the alleged drunk driver.
Pollis is charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault for killing Wallace and seriously injuring the college student’s friend who was in the passenger seat.
Her trial kicked off on Monday, with prosecutor Lauren Black telling jurors during opening statements that Pollis’s blood alcohol level was “well over” the legal limit, according to the outlet.
Pollis was driving at 63 mph but sped up to 67 mph as she approached the intersection at Monticello Avenue, which has a speed limit of 35 mph, Collision Safety Institute director Rusty Haight testified Friday.
The light in Pollis’ northbound direction at the intersection had been red for about five to seven seconds when she collided with Wallace who was driving through a green light, according to Haight.
Wallace’s vehicle was sent airborne briefly after the crash and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her passenger sustained a broken collarbone while Pollis suffered a fractured ankle.
Pollis faces up to 20 years behind bars for intoxication manslaughter and up to 10 years for intoxication assault.
