Full Notification

***UPDATE 2-9-18***
The Amarillo Police Department Traffic Follow Up Unit continues the investigation into the vehicle accident that left two people dead on Wednesday morning. Investigators have developed information that prior to the accident, the suspect Adam Christian Banbury, age 19, purchased alcohol at a local convenience store and had been served alcohol at two local on-site consumption locations. This information has been shared with other investigating agencies and the Traffic Follow Up Unit is following up with these businesses to determine how the transactions occurred. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code 106.03 states that a person commits an offense if they sell an alcoholic beverage to a minor. This offense is a Class A Misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000 and confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year or both.
 
 
***UPDATE 2-7-18, 1:45 PM***The driver of the pickup that hit the van has been arrested and booked into the Potter County Detention Center. 
Adam Christian Banbury, age 19, was booked for two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle.
The charge of intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony and can carry a 2-20 year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000. 
The charge of intoxication assault is a third degree felony and can carry a 2-10 year prison sentence and can also carry a $10,000 fine.
Preliminary figures show four collisions resulting in five deaths in Amarillo this year.  In two cases, investigators are reviewing case facts to determine if alcohol was a factor contributing to the accident. 
 
DETAILS: On February 7^th, 2018, at 3:28 AM, officers were sent to the 10,800 block of Interstate 40 on a major traffic collision.  Officers found that the two vehicles involved were traveling eastbound, just west of the Pullman Road overpass, at the time of the collision.  A gold 2005 Chevrolet van was in the middle lane.  A blue Ford F-250 pickup was eastbound behind it, traveling at a higher rate of speed.  The front of the pickup hit the rear of the van.  The impact caused the van to leave the roadway, rolling before it came to rest on its side on the eastbound access road.  The pickup continued eastbound briefly and hit a guard rail on the overpass.  The pickup then went down the embankment and came to rest on the access road.     
 
A family of twelve people from Arizona was in the van.  Two family members, a male age 50 and a female child age 11, were pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Thomas Jones.  The driver of the van, a 41 year old female, has non-life threatening injuries.  At least three other passengers have life threatening injuries.    
The driver of the pickup has been detained and is at a local hospital.  Initial investigation indicates that speed and alcohol are factors in the collision. 
    
APD Traffic and Crime Scene investigators are still on the scene.  The main lanes of IH-40 have been reopened but the access road and off ramp are blocked while officers remain there.