Man sentenced to prison for 2023 fatal crash on Loop 11 - KFDX

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A man was sentenced to prison on Friday, March 21, 2025, after pleading guilty to charges related to a fatal crash on Loop 11 more than two years prior. Anastacio Mendoza Bemol, 39, of Wichita Falls, pleaded guilty to the second-degree felony charge of manslaughter on Friday, March 21, in the 78th District Court, with Judge Meredith Kennedy presiding. Bemol was sentenced to 17 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. He was credited with 737 days for time already served. The charge against Bemol was pending for over a year after being declared incompetent to stand trial on February 6, 2024. The charge stems from what police called a "major vehicle crash" at the intersection of Loop 11 and Seymour Highway on March 16, 2023. They said the crash resulted in extensive damage to both vehicles and led to both drivers being transported to the emergency room due to serious and life-threatening injuries. According to the affidavit, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz was traveling eastbound on Seymour Highway and attempting to turn left at the intersection of Loop 11. Bemol was driving a Ford pickup traveling west on Seymour Highway. Police said Bemol traveled through the intersection and struck the Mercedes-Benz, causing a serious traffic accident. Police noted that the roadway visibility was good, the weather was clear, and the road didn't have any water or other substance on it that would affect a vehicle's ability to stop. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz was later identified as 68-year-old Diane Luckett. She was transported to United Regional with life-threatening injuries. She was later transported to a hospital in Lubbock, where she died on March 25, 2023. A witness to the crash told police that the Ford pickup was going at a high rate of speed and didn't stop at the red light at the intersection. They stated that the Mercedes had the right of way. According to the affidavit, police attempted to speak with Bemol, who had a laceration on his forehead and was "bleeding profusely." They said Bemol acted hostile and uncooperative toward medical personnel, saying, "Get the [expletive] away from me." Authorities said Bemol refused to answer questions and that he was verbally aggressive and cursed at officers. They said when officers asked him what happened, he responded, "You tell me what the [expletive] happened." They said he then began speaking only in Spanish. Police said a female Spanish-speaking officer then arrived at the scene. They said Bemol flirted with the female officer by asking personal questions. They said Bemol's flirtation was "clearly out of place and inappropriate." They said his emotions were "cycling rapidly." According to the affidavit, Bemol's former employer arrived on the scene and told officers he recently had to terminate Bemol because his behavior became erratic and unpredictable after he started using illegal narcotics. Police also said Bemol's wife spoke with them at the hospital. Bemol's wife said she and her husband had separated in January because he was using cocaine and methamphetamine. They said she detailed various severely erratic behaviors Bemol engaged in while under the influence. Initially, Bemol was charged with intoxication assault with a vehicle, but the charge was upgraded to manslaughter after Luckett's death.