Car carrying mariachis runs into West Side Jack in the Box restaurant

Driver arrested on charge of driving while intoxicated

SAN ANTONIO – It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke: a group of mariachis goes into a Jack in the Box. Only in this case, no one is laughing.

The driver of a gold Jeep Liberty, Ismael Montes Espinoza, 53, was arrested and charged for driving while intoxicated.

"After further investigation we deemed that this individual was too intoxicated to drive which resulted in the accident, and that individual was placed under arrest for DWI," San Antonio police spokesman Doug Green said.

Police investigators said Espinoza was one of several mariachi performers who were returning home after a gig around 3 a.m. Thursday.

While trying to make a turn from Culebra Road onto NW 24th Street, Espinoza lost control of his car, jumped a curb and hit the front of the building as well as some support beams.

The impact left a glass door shattered and crumbled one of the support beams. Other beams had noticeable cracks on their exteriors.

It did not appear, however, that anyone was hurt in the crash.

Officers at the scene administered a field sobriety test, then arrested Espinoza. Police said it appeared he also was speeding at the time of the crash.

The drive thru at the fast food restaurant is open today, however customers will not be able to dine-in according to the supervisor on duty.


About the Authors:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.