James Albert Pritchard, 49, the man accused of manslaughter in the death of Sammy Castaneda, refused to perform a field sobriety test according to a search warrant at the Lubbock County courthouse.
However, he did tell an officer he consumed alcohol prior to a deadly crash Sunday evening at 50th and Indiana Avenue.
A police statement the day after the crash said Prichard was driving a pickup truck and crashed into the back of Castaneda’s motorcycle. Castaneda was pronounced dead at University Medical Center.
“J. Pritchard was slow to talk and was slurring his speech,” the search warrant said. “I asked J. Pritchard to count backwards from the number ‘47’ and stop at the number ’32.’ J. Pritchard refused to perform this test.”
The warrant mentioned two cans of beer in the cab of the pickup truck after the crash.
The search warrant indicated Prichard also refused to voluntarily give a blood same to test for blood-alcohol level.
“Pritchard advised there are two very good lawyers in this town and they advised not to give his blood,” the warrant said.
The officer then requested a search warrant from State District Judge Jim Bob Darnell who signed the warrant roughly two-and-a-half hours after the crash.
The warrant indicated a nurse at University Medical Center did draw blood but the actual results were not included in the warrant. Prichard was taken from UMC to the Lubbock County Detention Center and charged with manslaughter.
Related Story: Update: Four Vehicle Accident Early Sunday Evening at 50th & Indiana