Then CPS is coming out to take your kids. Okay. >> How old are you? Five. >> I'm calling his mom. You >> arresting me? >> I am at the moment. And it's going to be for driving while intoxicated. Okay. >> Thursday, November 23rd, 2023, Marshall, Texas. That Thanksgiving afternoon, what first appeared to be another traffic incident on I 20 revealed a far more serious problem. The collision with a commercial truck exposed the presence of three miners inside the vehicle and a pattern of behavior that for officers could no longer be dismissed as a simple mistake. It was an early sign of a much deeper structural risk. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. Get your daily dose of crime every single day at 3 p.m. Eastern and we're turning it up two videos per day. Don't miss a single moment and tune in. >> So, what happened? >> Um, so I was headed home. Um, I interit. He had already swerved off on the exit. So, I followed him. I called 911 right before we hit the code cuz >> we're going to need some traffic control. So, you were coming. What were you coming off? >> Off the exit. Yes. He was in front of us van coming. We were exiting off the exit ramp. So he almost hit the cones coming off and then we stopped at the red light. I thought he was going to stop. He just kept on going. So as his 18-wheeler was coming through the green light, he just smashed into him. Then at that point, he backed up really fast, then haul back up over the curb right there, and that's when I just came right here. And then I guess he realized he went this one. Yeah, I just went around this way and stopped. Yeah, I guess he realized he wasn't going nowhere. You have to come get kids. >> Why? >> Oh, he can't even stand up. >> He's got two. He's doing a mess dance. Got two babies in the car seat. >> Oh my god. >> What's your name? Louis. >> Louis. >> Stand still if you can. If you're able to control yourself, I need you to stand still. I need you to focus on my finger and the point of it only. And I need you to move your eyes only. Keep your head still. Right. In these first moments, officers identify the driver, Lewis Elliot Tacket, age 31, traveling alone with three minors while operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Witness accounts running a red light, erratic maneuvers, and the subsequent crash point to a level of deterioration that began long before police arrived. For investigators, the concern is not only the impact itself, but what it reveals about the moment Tacket decided to drive. With three children in the vehicle, the situation immediately becomes a case of eminent where the safety of the miners becomes the priority. >> Where's uh what's his name? >> He's on the way. >> Who can we call for these babies? >> I went and got my sons. >> Okay. >> And I was going to Tyler to celebrate Thanksgiving. Okay. >> Coming from where? >> Coming from port on my license. >> Okay. Can I identify? >> Uh, she may have it. I'm not sure. >> I took a picture. >> Do you have the license? >> Oh, he has. Okay. Yeah, we still have it. >> Quit digging around. >> Yeah. Hold on. Step over here with him. Five days. >> Oh my goodness. >> Did you actually manage to make a phone call? >> I'm looking right now. My little brother was calling. He keeps calling. >> Well, then here. >> Yeah. I'm calling his mom >> to come get my kids. Can I >> Thank you. Appreciate you. Yes. Is this um Are you Lewis's brother? >> Okay. Well, this is Lieutenant King with the Marshall Police Department. He has been in an accident. This is Lieutenant King with the Marshall Police Department in Marshall, Texas. He's fine, but there's a good chance that he's about to be placed under arrest. And we need somebody to come and get his children because he's under the influence of something. Means he has introduced something into his body that has caused him to lose control of his faculty to the point where he is not able to drive and he has his children in the truck with him. Is there somebody closer that can come and take custody of his children? We are at the intersection of Highway 59 and I20. Where are you coming from? >> Not at this not at this exact moment. Where are you coming from? >> Excuse me. >> So, you're over an hour away. Is is there somebody here that is there somebody closer that can come and take custody of his children? >> Do you have your you have your wallet with you? >> Yeah, I have I have >> Oh, let me let me double let me double check that. What What's in that envelope? >> Hey, focus one second. Draw that pattern. >> I'm going to call my little brother. So, his mom's going to try and get my kid. >> Is that Yeah. >> I just got on the phone with off the phone with him. I just need you to thank >> Oh, here she is. >> She's got you. >> Can you answer it? >> Y'all can't just take my stuff like that without asking me. I got a wife. >> Got to make sure that your kids got taken care of, bud. That's all she do. Okay. My truck. >> Yeah. But if she doesn't speak to them, then CPS is coming out to take your kids. Okay. >> So, you got that. >> I get the frustration on that, but at the same time, it's either that or CPS. So, it's going to be a better route for your family to come get it, right? >> Is there anything else that you need? >> I was trying to see if he had insurance cuz it see ID card. >> You're good. You said it's on that little piece of paper right here. Okay. Stand right here for me. Here. Go back up there. >> Okay. It's his insurance. What? >> He said it's over by the little steps where you step up. >> Okay. >> Little. >> As the intervention progresses, officers confirmed that Tacket lacked even the minimum capacity to ensure the safety of those in his care. His disorientation and difficulty following instructions do not align with typical reactions to a crash. They reflect a degree of impairment that should have been evident before the trip began. This stage introduces a critical question. How did he manage to drive without anyone intervening? In DWI cases involving minors, the investigation goes beyond the driver. It extends to the family and social dynamics which allowed three children to begin a trip without a sober adult responsible for them. When Tacket attempts to contact the children's mother to pick them up, officers interpret the gesture not as a solution, but as an attempt to deflect responsibility. This disconnect between the seriousness of the situation and his response reinforces the need to assess his overall capacity to provide care. >> Have they gotten driver's license and insurance information? >> No. >> Okay. Do you have your driver's license? >> So, explain to me again what what you witnessed. >> So, I noticed him on the highway survey. Okay. >> And then I he was in that left lane while I was exiting off here cuz I live on 59. So, I was just going to I was going to continue on, but then he swerved at the last second onto the ramp. So, I was like, "Okay, well, I'll just exit off and follow him." Well, about right before we hit the co, I called because he was swerving. I said, "I'm pretty sure he's drunk." Something almost hit the thing. Then we come up to the thing. I thought he was going to stop because the light was red. And then we just slowly and I was like, "He's going to stop. He's going to stop." And then he just kept going and just >> Well, how'd he end up over here? Because he flew it in reverse and then flew that way. And so that's when I come this way and just stop here to try to block him in because I wasn't going to let him leave. >> Okay, gotcha. So he ran the red light, hit >> Yeah, he come through. Yeah, >> hits the semitr then puts it in reverse and spins it around and comes up over here. Did he hit the tree at all or did he stop before he >> I think he stopped right before he hit the tree and then I think he realized, okay, we're all out here and he wasn't going there where my vehicle was. >> Okay, let me I need to get your phone. Okay. >> Are you leaving, too? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Yeah, just for a sec so I can photograph that truck and the scene real quick and then I'm good. >> I just got to take I was check 4669. Oh, ice cream sandwich. >> Feed him a bunch of sugar before you guys. >> Yeah, >> perfect. >> How old are you? >> Five. >> He's seven. >> I got a little boy that's about to be 10 and then a little girl that's about to be three. So, I can handle you. All right, my loves. No, >> we not going to go to the jail. >> You're not go You're not going to jail. I'm taking you up there so we can have a place to sit. Maybe get you a snack. >> Yeah, cuz we don't need to be outside of death. >> Yeah, >> I I want to watch a movie. >> It's not that kind of iPad, baby. Did you actually manage to make a phone call? >> I'm looking right now. My little brother was calling. He keeps calling. Well, then here. >> Yeah. >> I'm calling his mom to come get my kids. Can I >> Here, he's he's got it here. All right. All right. Here. >> I'm going to run you through some tests. Okay. Hey, bud. We We'll get that taken care of. Just step over here for me. That way you can get Grab your wallet for me. Okay. >> Okay. I'm going to run you through some tests. Just step right over here. We We may ask for that here in a little bit, but we're we're not going through all that right now. I just need to take a look at your eyes. Okay. Go ahead and keep your hands down at your sides for me. Feet together just like they are. All right. You don't wear any contacts or anything real quick before I start. You don't wear any contacts or anything? >> No. I should have 2020. >> He's not going to be able to. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. Uh, I'll tell you what. Let's step over here to my vehicle. That way I can put all this stuff down. Okay. >> You have your You have your wallet with you? >> Yeah, I have I have it in my hand. I got all of his effects. >> Thanks. >> Oh, here she is. Hang on. She She's got you. >> Can you answer? Y'all can't just take my stuff like that without asking me. I got a wife. >> She's trying to make sure that your kids got taken care of, bud. That's all she's trying to do. Okay. >> Because my truck. >> You said that you don't have anything like sharp or anything. Poke me, stick me, stab me. Come on. >> Oh, you're good. I ain't >> I got you. You're just You're trying to go through what you know to do. >> Arresting me. >> I am at the moment. And it's going to be for driving while intoxicated. Okay. That's just standard procedure for this in order for me to do the blood warrant, get all that done. Okay. >> And I have my phone. >> I I got your phone. >> You know, she >> she has it, but I will get it before we go. Okay. Just have a seat for me right here. >> I need to call the mom. Please get my kids out of my >> We will make sure that your kids get out of the truck. >> That's what she's working on trying to get done now. That's why she has her phone. Okay. Keys in my wallet. Just need to get this I saw him going to jail, right? >> Yes, sir. But first, we are going to go to the hospital cuz you were involved in an accident. Okay. We'll go through that. We'll get you medically cleared. Make sure that you're all good and then we're going to do the blood draw and we'll get you off to jail. That way you can get all this taken care of. Okay. Give me just a minute. I'm going to go check on your kids. >> I'm going to check on your kids and I'm going to make sure you get your phone. Okay. I I >> I don't have one. Otherwise, I would. Bud. At this point, police work centers on documenting each step of the procedure. Statements and photographs from the scene become part of the report that will determine the involvement of child protective services. Removing the minors from the vehicle is not only an emergency measure, it's the formal beginning of the process that will define their immediate protection. While Tacket attempts to influence how events unfold, officers follow protocol without deviation. The gap between his perceived control and the institutional response reflects that the case has entered a stage where only verifiable elements and child safety measures will guide the next steps. >> Sorry, you got my phone out there. >> No, I have it. I have that and I also have what is it? Uh your ID, your your card, your license and all that. >> So can I get a contact out of >> out of your phone? Yeah. So, as soon as we >> Okay. So, essentially what's going to happen, like I said, we're we're going to the hospital right now first. Okay. I said first we're go we're going to the hospital first. Okay. >> I'm okay. >> Yeah. I I I get you to you. You're okay. But it's it's part of it's all part of our policy, bud. It's it's the way that we have the process set up to do. So, since you were involved in an accident, we're going to get you medically cleared. Then, we'll do the blood draw. That's going to be separate. Okay? That's going to be entirely different than just a quick medical checkup, check of vitals, make sure you're good to go. Basically the same thing they probably already did out there. Um, but when we get to the jail, they're going to be able to let you have pretty much as many phone numbers as you're going to be able to get written down on a sticky note. Okay? And they'll get all of that taken care of for you. But I saw a little bit of blood on you. Did you have any open cuts or anything like that, man? intern. >> Is there anything bleeding right that that you're aware of? >> Yeah, we're back at work. My I'm a big >> Okay. >> I just got off by like 2:30. I was running behind. So, I was in a hurry scrubbing the box with >> and metal in place. >> Yeah. and my finger, please. >> Oh, okay. I got you. I got you. >> Sir, can you come loosen these handcuffs? >> Right over here. >> As soon as we get in here, >> let me see what I can do. Okay. So, are are you going to consent to a blood draw? Cuz we don't have the breathalyzer. >> Why am I going to jail? >> You're going to jail for driving while intoxicated. >> I got hit. I was talking to my kid. I said, "Y'all can test me." Whatever they found. Yeah. When I was in Texas, Canada. Mhm. >> I let my homeboy use my truck. You can call him off my contacts. >> Yeah. I And I can't get into your phone. I'm not going to get into your phone. It's in my It's in my vehicle right now. >> I really want you to to get my information out of it. >> I'm not I don't need to. U >> Yeah. Yes, ma'am. I totally >> real intoxication. >> Yeah. >> You're not intoxicated? >> No. I thought my choice was in court. I walk into my kids and they walk out in front of a truck or a diesel or something. >> Okay. Oh, do you have Okay. It's going to be okay. >> Yeah. Just have a seat right there, buddy. >> Uh, as soon I tell you what, do they have your vitals and then we'll do all >> after his medical evaluation and subsequent booking into the county jail, prosecutors filed two charges based on the incident. driving while intoxicated with child passenger, a state jail felony under the Texas Penal Code, and of a child. Each offense carrying a potential sentence of 180 days to two years in a state jail facility, along with fines that may reach $10,000. Depending on the judge's decision, these sentences may run concurrently or consecutively, affecting the total time he may serve. As the case moved forward, subsequent records showed that the incident was not isolated. It became the first documented indicator of a risk pattern the court must consider when determining sentencing and supervision for the minors who remain the central victims of the event. CPS continues assessing their safety and the long-term protective measures that will follow.