A 19-year-old man from Carlsbad has been taken into custody following an indictment on several charges. He is accused of leading law enforcement on a nighttime pursuit that resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals, one of whom was a resident of San Angelo.
According to the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office inmate roster, Jeydan Sanchez-Ayala was taken into custody at the Tom Green County Detention Center on Tuesday afternoon, June 17, facing grand jury indictment charges of manslaughter and evading arrest resulting in death. At the moment, he is still present with a bond set at $400,000.
Records from Tom Green County reveal that Sanchez-Ayala faces indictment on two counts of manslaughter and two counts of evading arrest resulting in death. The total bond amount stands at $400,000, with each count carrying a bond of $100,000.
The indictment record states that he was indicted on both counts of manslaughter for allegedly causing the deaths “by operating a motor vehicle at an unreasonable speed, or operating a motor vehicle during the night without headlights on, or failure to maintain a single lane while operating a motor vehicle.”
He was also indicted on the counts because, allegedly, “a deadly weapon, namely a motor vehicle, which in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury, was used or exhibited during the commission of the charged offense” and because he “used and exhibited the deadly weapon.”
Sanchez-Ayala faces serious charges for evading arrest in a way that resulted in death, as he was indicted for allegedly causing death while “intentionally” fleeing from a peace officer who was lawfully attempting to arrest or detain him. It was also noted in the allegations that the individuals who lost their lives “died due to the motor vehicle” operated by Sanchez-Ayala “departing the roadway and colliding with a barrier.”
The circumstances surrounding the evasion of arrest, which resulted in fatalities, included references to the alleged use or display of a “deadly weapon, specifically a motor vehicle,” during the commission of the offenses charged.
A preliminary investigation report from the Texas Department of Public Safety reveals that the incident unfolded around 9:55 p.m. on April 11, when DPS Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a white Dodge Challenger after witnessing it racing alongside another vehicle southbound on S US-87. The agency reported that “the Dodge Challenger extinguished its lights and started to flee from troopers, heading south on S US-87.”
In a dramatic turn of events, the driver, identified as Sanchez-Ayala, engaged law enforcement in a high-speed chase, confirmed by radar, before ultimately losing control of the vehicle. The TxDPS reported that the vehicle veered off the road, collided with a guardrail, took flight, and rolled into the central median close to Wilde Road.
According to TxDPS, “both passengers were ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced deceased at the scene.” Sanchez-Ayala was taken to Shannon Hospital for treatment of significant injuries.
Authorities have confirmed the identities of the individuals who lost their lives: 18-year-old Jesus Manuel Silva II from San Angelo and 20-year-old Matthew Allen Reyes from Big Spring.
