AUSTIN, Texas – A judge is about to decide how long Roberto Rangel will spend behind bars for drinking and driving—a mistake that cost two young lives.
The Night of the Crash
It was the early hours of December 18, 2022, when tragedy struck in Austin. Around 2:40 a.m., Austin police rushed to a crash on East Ben White Boulevard’s service road. A pickup truck had collided with a motorcycle, leaving behind a heartbreaking scene.
The driver of the truck, 51-year-old Roberto Rangel, had just pulled out of a parking lot but failed to yield the right of way. In that moment, a motorcycle carrying 23-year-old Mark Narvaez and his 22-year-old passenger, Kate Garcia, crashed into Rangel’s truck. The impact was devastating—both Mark and Kate died at the scene.
Families Still in Pain
Even after two years, the families of Mark and Kate are still struggling with the loss.
“I arrived at the scene and saw the motorcycle completely destroyed,” one of the officers who responded that night recalled in court.
For the families, the grief never fades.
“Half of my life is gone,” Kate Garcia’s mother, Elida Zamora, said, her voice filled with sorrow.
Mark’s father, Hector Narvaez, shared how difficult the holidays have been since losing his son. “There’s a big void in our family, not just during the holidays but every single day.”
What Happened to Rangel?
Despite the deadly crash, Rangel was not immediately locked up for a long sentence. That night, he refused to take a field sobriety test, but officers arrested him for intoxication manslaughter.
Shockingly, just three months later, his charge was reduced to a lesser offense—DWI. His bond was lowered to $10,000, allowing him to walk free.
Even when he appeared in court on January 22, 2025, he wasn’t in handcuffs. That changed later in the day.
Rangel pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony DWI, his third or more offense. But what shocked many was his record—this was his seventh time being caught drinking and driving.
“I know people believe in second chances, but this man has had more than enough,” Mark’s father, Hector, said.
The Road to Justice
After the court hearing, Rangel was finally cuffed and taken to jail—something Mark’s family felt was long overdue.
“I really commend Judge Needles for doing the right thing by taking him away in cuffs,” Hector said.
Now, all eyes are on February 12, when Rangel will be sentenced. He faces anywhere from 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
For the grieving families, no punishment will ever bring back their loved ones, but they hope this is at least a step toward justice.
“This might bring some closure in the legal sense,” Mark’s brother, Alex Narvaez, said. “But that void will always be there.”
