Carl Crabtree Trial Underway in Smith County

TYLER — The intoxication manslaughter trial of Carl Crabtree, 31, of Tyler, is underway in a Tyler courtroom. The case involves the deaths of two people stemming from an alleged drunk driving crash March 4. That’s when Crabtree was driving south on Old Jacksonville Highway and his vehicle crossed the center line, colliding head-on with an SUV.

The suspect was charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in the deaths of Dana Regester, 41, of Flint, and Pasha Zapolsky, 18, of Bullard. Asheley Regester was thrown from the vehicle and hospitalized, but she recovered from her injuries. Caleb Chadwell also suffered injuries but he was eventually released from a local hospital.

An investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has found no evidence of over-serving by two bars visited by Crabtree prior to the wreck. TABC agents visited Click’s Billiards and Daniel Boone’s Grill & Tavern, both located in Tyler, after an investigation determined Crabtree had been drinking at both bars prior to the accident. Investigators examined sales receipts, security videos and spoke with employees and witnesses to determine whether either bar contributed to the accident by serving alcohol to an intoxicated person. After reviewing the evidence, TABC officials found no evidence that either bar improperly served Crabtree prior to his alleged involvement in the accident.

Prior to the crash, Crabtree had been arrested for speeding, failure to appear in court, driving while license suspended/invalid X3 (1 count dismissed) and 2 DWIs.