27-Year-Old Alex Nunez Killed, 3-Year-Old Daughter Injured After Suspected DWI Crash in New Braunfels

According to a News4SanAntonio report, Alex Nunez was killed and two people were arrested after a tragic accident over the weekend.¹

Police reported the accident happened at around 7 p.m. Saturday, September 12th, in the 2500 block of FM 725 on the South Side of New Braunfels.

First responders were called to the scene of a head-on collision involving a pickup truck and a sedan. They found 27-year-old Alex Nunez in his vehicle and pronounced him dead at the scene. His three-year-old daughter was taken to University Hospital in San Antonio with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the pickup, identified as 25-year-old Rafael Alejandro Arreguin-Ramirez of Mexico, reportedly showed signs of intoxication at the scene. He was transported to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-New Braunfels for a blood search warrant before being booked into the Guadalupe County Jail.

He was charged with intoxication manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

His passenger, 23-year-old Alejandro Aguillen Acosta, reportedly fled the scene on foot and hid in the garage of a nearby home. Police found and arrested him without incident on charges of evading arrest or detention and criminal trespass of a habitation.

The investigation is ongoing.

Did You Know?

According to TxDOT crash data, 617 people were killed in head-on collisions across Texas in 2024.²

Can You Sue If You’re Hurt by a Driver From Another Country?

Yes. A driver’s nationality or country of residence does not prevent an injured person or surviving family from pursuing a Texas personal injury or wrongful death claim.

If the crash happened in Texas, the driver’s conduct on Texas roads and the insurance covering the vehicle are generally far more important than where the driver normally lives.

The international element can make some cases more complicated, particularly if the driver later leaves the United States. But it does not automatically leave victims without legal options.

An Attorney Can Start by Identifying Every Available Insurance Policy

The first question is often not where the driver lives, but what insurance covers the crash.

A foreign visitor could be driving:

• Their own vehicle
• A rental car
• A borrowed vehicle
• A company-owned vehicle
• A vehicle insured by a friend or relative

If someone borrowed a vehicle with permission, the owner’s insurance may provide coverage depending on the policy and circumstances. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that a friend who borrows a car with permission will usually be covered, subject to exclusions and other policy terms.³

An attorney can investigate who owned the vehicle, obtain available insurance information, and determine whether more than one policy may apply.

What If There Isn’t Enough Liability Insurance?

If the responsible driver is uninsured or does not have enough coverage to pay for the losses caused by the crash, the injured person’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may become important.

Texas insurers are required to offer UM/UIM coverage unless the policyholder rejects it in writing. It can help pay damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage.⁴

In a serious crash, an attorney can review the family’s policies, determine whether UM/UIM coverage is available, and handle communications with the insurance companies.

That can be especially important when injuries are severe or the accident results in death.

What If the Driver Returns to Another Country?

A driver leaving the United States can make a case more difficult, but it does not necessarily end it.

There may still be an insurance company responsible for paying a covered claim. Depending on the circumstances, a civil case may also continue even if the defendant no longer lives in Texas.

The practical difficulty is that locating someone, serving legal documents, and collecting directly from an individual can become more complicated once they are outside the country.

That makes early investigation particularly valuable.

An attorney can work to identify insurance, preserve evidence, document the driver’s information, and determine what steps need to be taken before the person becomes harder to locate.

Immigration Status Is Not the Central Liability Question

A civil car accident claim focuses primarily on what caused the crash and who was legally responsible.

Evidence that a driver was allegedly intoxicated, speeding, distracted, or otherwise negligent is generally much more important to liability than citizenship or immigration status.

The fact that a driver is from another country does not by itself prove negligence, and it does not prevent someone injured in Texas from pursuing a claim.

Criminal Charges and a Civil Claim Can Proceed Separately

When a serious crash leads to an arrest, families may assume the criminal case will take care of everything.

It won’t.

Criminal prosecutors represent the state and focus on whether a crime was committed. A personal injury or wrongful death attorney represents the injured person or surviving family and focuses on civil compensation.

That can include investigating:

• Medical expenses and future care
• Lost wages or financial support
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Other damages resulting from the crash

A family generally does not have to wait for the criminal prosecution to conclude before investigating its civil options.

Evidence developed in the criminal investigation, including toxicology results, witness statements, vehicle data, and crash reconstruction evidence, may also become important to the civil claim.

Why an Attorney Can Be Especially Helpful in an International Driver Case

A serious accident is already complicated. When the responsible driver lives in another country, additional questions can arise about vehicle ownership, insurance coverage, the driver’s location, and how to preserve the family’s claim.

An attorney can help by:

• Identifying the driver and vehicle owner’s insurance
• Looking for additional policies or responsible parties
• Reviewing UM/UIM coverage
• Preserving evidence from the crash
• Communicating and negotiating with insurance companies
• Coordinating the civil claim while criminal charges are pending
• Taking steps to protect the claim if the driver leaves the country

The fact that a driver lives outside the United States can add another layer to the case, but it does not mean an injured person or grieving family has to navigate that layer alone.

Injured or Lost a Loved One in a Texas Car Accident? Call Shaw.

If you were injured or your family lost a loved one because of another driver’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages or Financial Support
• Pain and Suffering
• Loss of Companionship
• Funeral and Burial Expenses
• Other Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Damages
• And More

We’ll help you find out if you have a claim for free.

Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 to talk to an experienced car accident or wrongful death attorney in Texas. There are no fees, no obligations, and no pressure—just clear, compassionate legal guidance when you need it most.

We look forward to serving you.

 

 

Sources

¹News4SanAntonio Report

²TxDOT Crash Facts 2024

³Texas Department of Insurance — Auto Insurance FAQ

⁴Texas Department of Insurance — Auto Insurance Guide