Mariah Manke, 29, of Magnolia died in what authorities believe may have been an alcohol-related accident in Conroe Nov. 27 just minutes after midnight.

According to a press release from the Conroe Police Department (CPD), Manke and her passenger Thomas Weeks, 21, were traveling south in the 900 block of Frazier Street in a Ford Windstar van. Also traveling south in the next lane was Roland Reed, 54, driving a Chevrolet Camaro.

Both the van and Camaro proceeded through the intersection of Frazier and Gladstell at a green light. Meanwhile, Abisai Garcia Ramirez, 21, was traveling west on Gladstell in a Chevrolet Lumina when police say he disregarded the red light and struck the van driven by Manke.

Pictured, Ramirez.

Authorities say Ramirez’s vehicle struck the van directly on the driver’s door. The impact forced both Manke’s and Reed’s vehicles off the road. Manke’s van came to rest after striking a telephone pole. Reed’s Camaro stopped in a large shrub, while Ramirez’s Lumina stopped behind the van.

Riding along with Ramirez was Rebecca Castilow, 18, who was uninjured and, witnesses told CPD, left the vehicle to discard a small plastic bag into a nearby convenience store trash can.

Officers with the CPD and Community Oriented Response Team responded to the accident, along with Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Trey Spikes. Spikes pronounced Manke dead and ordered an autopsy.

Assistant to the District Attorney and member of the Vehicular Crimes Unit Lee Romero said a blood specimen taken from Ramirez indicated that his blood alcohol content was approximately 0.19, more than double the legal limit of 0.08.

Weeks was transported to Conroe Regional Medical Center (CRMC) to be treated and has since been released.

Reed was reportedly seen trying to leave the scene, but was stopped by arriving officers. Reed was then transported to CRMC for treatment and was later released.

“Reed has not yet been charged, but there is a possibility of charges at a later date,” Romero said. “Charges could include a DWI, because evidence concluded he may have been intoxicated, and failure to stop and render aid.”

Romero said because witnesses saw Castilow throwing an item in the trash, police were able to recover the item which turned out to be drugs. She was taken to Montgomery County Jail and has been charged with tampering with evidence and possession of drugs.

Ramirez suffered injuries to his hip and was also transported to CRMC. Romero said that Ramirez was arrested at the hospital. He has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter  and remained in the Montgomery County Jail at press time with a $500,000 bond.

Ramirez has no prior convictions. Romero said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may become involved.

Romero reported that ICE did not have a hold on Ramirez as of press time.

“He admitted to being a Mexican citizen, therefore here illegally. He did not wish, however, for the magistrate to contact his consular official,” Romero said.

The Vehicular Crimes Unit is still investigating the accident. Romero has subpoenaed the hospital for Ramirez’s blood for testing and is in the process of contacting Weeks for further information.

“I have learned through lawyers that Manke was a mother of five,” Romero said. “That information made my heart drop.”

Manke is the third Magnolia resident to perish in a car accident in two weeks. On Nov. 13 Dorothy Gandy, 79, was killed in a two-car collision on Nichols Sawmill Drive. Just six days later, Nov. 19, Magnolia High School senior Jonathan Kuta, 17, died in a head-on collision on FM 1488 near Lake Windcrest.

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