Midland woman charged with intoxication manslaughter in May rollover crash

MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland woman has been arrested nearly two months after a crash that killed her passenger, according to a Midland Police Department affidavit. 31-year-old Kristen Nicole Duniven has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with a crash that occurred on May 2. According to investigators, officers and emergency crews responded around 11:40 p.m. on May 2 to a single-vehicle rollover near the intersection of South Service Road and Cotton Flat Road after receiving multiple crash alerts and reports of an overturned vehicle. Upon further investigation, detectives were able to determine that a gray 2025 Nissan Versa, driven by Kristen Nicole Duniven, was traveling east when she allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign, continued through the intersection at a high rate of speed, struck a curb, became airborne over a drainage retention pond, and rolled over before coming to rest on Cotton Flat Road. Both Duniven and her passenger, identified in crash reports as 32-year-old Chandler Trost, suffered serious injuries and were taken to Midland Memorial Hospital. Trost later died from injuries sustained in the crash on May 17, according to investigators. While speaking with Duniven at the hospital, investigators reported she had slurred speech, and another officer noted smelling alcohol on her breath. Due to the severity of the crash and her medical condition, investigators obtained a warrantless blood sample under exigent circumstances. According to the affidavit, Texas Department of Public Safety toxicology results later showed Duniven had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.143, above the legal limit of 0.08. Jail records show that Duniven was then booked into the Midland County Detention Center on July 7, with a bond set at $750,000. Jack Ladd is listed as Duniven's attorney for the case. This charge is an allegation, and Duniven is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.