I-35 wrong-way driver charged with intoxication manslaughter

AUSTIN, Texas— An Intoxication manslaughter charge has been filed against a man accused of causing a fatal wrong-way wreck Wednesday morning on I-35 in Round Rock.

John McClintock, 32, was identified as the driver—a San Marcos resident now being held in the Williamson County Jail.

Security camera video from a convenience store shows an image of an Austin Police officer at the Braker Lane overpass. The video was recorded shortly after 4:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, as the officer was trying to get the attention of the wrong-way driver traveling north in the I-35 southbound lanes.

Unable to flag the driver down, the patrolman joins what eventually becomes a 14-mile chase.

"Officers witnessed this happen, which is very dramatic. It's difficult, or officers were following the spiracle with lights activated, with their emergency lights activated, and we don't have any indication that the driver even recognized the police were attempting to get this driver’s attention," said Officer Nathan Blake, Spokesman for APD.

Police pursuit policy prevents officers from getting directly behind wrong-way drivers. Meaning, the patrol cars had to stay in the northbound lanes, before turning around.

The chase ended near Old Settlers Boulevard with a crash into a motorcycle.  The rider, who has not been identified, was killed.  Another driver was forced off the road but was not seriously injured.

The collision closed all four lanes of I-35 for much of the morning until McClintock's car and the motorcycle could be removed. Investigators are not sure how or where McClintock got on the interstate. Calls for help to 9-1-1 first reported seeing the car between the 183 flyover and Rundberg.

McClintock, according to his Facebook account, is a meat cutter at a San Marcos grocery store.  Round Rock Police took him to the Williamson County Jail and charged him with intoxication manslaughter.