Suspected drunk driver causes 2 crashes in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas - A suspected drunk driver caused two car accidents in south Fort Worth. One involved a Fort Worth police officer.

Officer Sean McMahon was driving on Interstate 35W near Highway 121 around midnight Wednesday. He had to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting a small silver car that was going the wrong way.

"At that point, I activated my overhead lights to try and get that driver's attention to stop,” he recalled. “Meanwhile, cars are swerving out of the way — that sort of thing."

Police say the driver of the wrong-way car, 55-year-old Emila Ybarra, was driving drunk. She has had three previous DWI convictions over the past 24 years. Records show her second DWI happened while she was out on probation for the first one.

McMahon tried to use his car to block her or force her into the guard rail. But as he made his move, he was hit from behind by another driver.

“We get into this job to save lives and protect people,” the officer said. “And if it means me putting myself out there for potential injury, then that's what I signed up for."

About five miles later, police say Ybarra slammed into a car driven by Cordell Carson.

"I got smacked into, and my car flipped a couple times,” he said. “I got thrown out of the car. The car flipped over my head, and I literally watched it.”

Carson, clinging to a picture of his 4-year-old-son Jacoby, says God saved him from being injured in the crash.

"All I know is God is good,” he said. “There's no denying that. Like, I shouldn't even be here today. I shouldn’t be”

"That made it all worth it for me,” McMahon said. “It's absolutely miraculous that he survived without a scratch."

Ybarra was arrested on the spot and taken to the Mansfield jail. She is charged with suspicion of driving while intoxicated.