Report released on fatal car accident

UPSHUR COUNTY – A new state report revealed that Longview ISD teacher Kimberly Law was driving with a blood?alcohol level nearly double the legal limit before the April crash that killed her and a Longview nurse practitioner.On April 19, DPS responded to a collision at around 3 a.m. on Sunday in the Diana area involving Law and Hospitality Health ER nurse practitioner Joel Mack.

According to our news partner KETK, Law was allegedly driving south on the northbound lane of U.S. 259 when she struck Mack’s vehicle, which was driving north in the same lane, a preliminary investigation revealed. Law was pronounced dead at the scene and Mack was transported to a local hospital for his injuries.

Mack later died from his injuries, DPS said.

KETK News obtained a TxDOT crash report, which says Law was found to have a BAC of 0.157%. The legal limit in the U.S. is 0.08%. According to Alcohol.org, a BAC over 0.15% is considered “very high,” with symptoms such as a less control over balance and voluntary muscles, which makes walking and talking difficult.

“However, a person’s BAC level is not only affected by how much alcohol is consumed but by other factors such as an individual’s weight, gender, pattern of drinking and genetics,” the website said.

Other side effects and impairments resulting from an increasing and high blood alcohol levels include the following: slowed reflexes and reaction time, slurred speech, memory trouble, blackouts and memory loss, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, loss of physical coordination, passing out, heartbeat, breathing and blood pressure changes.

Following the crash, KETK News spoke to Mack’s family, who described him as someone “born for a caring profession,” a person who knew early in life that he wanted to help others. In medicine, they said, he found the perfect place to blend his compassion, humor and gift for putting people at ease.

As his final act of generosity, Mack donated his organs in April in Dallas, where family, friends and coworkers gathered for an honor walk.

Law had served with Longview ISD for 25 years and worked in education for more than three decades. She was most recently serving in the social studies department at Foster Middle School.

According to the district, Law was honored as Foster Middle School’s Teacher of the Year multiple times and was part of the first group of teachers to be recognized through Texas’ Teacher Incentive Allotment program.

After preliminary reports came to light, Longview ISD Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard released the following statement in April:

“We are profoundly saddened by the loss of such a valued member of our community in this tragic incident. While we did not have the full details at the time of our initial communication, we want to acknowledge this loss and express our sincere condolences to their family, colleagues, and all who knew and loved them. The Longview ISD community is grieving alongside you, and we extend our sincere thoughts and prayers with you during this difficult time.”