SAN ANTONIO – The widow of Ramiro Reyes left the courtroom in shock late Thursday afternoon after Judge Janet Littlejohn declared a mistrial in the woman's wrongful death lawsuit trial.
Ramiro Reyes, 32, died when his truck skidded into a light pole on a South side expressway on Dec. 17, 2008.
The Texas Department of Transportation had applied a de-icing agent on the expressway interchange in advance of anticipated rain and ice.
The lawsuit alleged that application of the de-icing chemicals was dangerous and claimed the transportation department was negligent.
The suit described the roadway as even more dangerous that if it had iced over since the chemicals made it extremely slippery.
Fidel Rodriguez, who represented Alicia Reyes, the victim's widow, said she was devastated and too shaken to comment following the mistrial.
The jury had deliberated since Monday morning and was evenly split according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said he plans to file a motion for a new trial immediately.