New Trial For Man Charged in Fatal Christmas 2021 Crash in North Amarillo

Nearly two years ago, a fiery wrong-way crash on St. Francis Avenue in Amarillo, Texas claimed the lives of five family members who had been out looking at Christmas lights.

The victims in the crash were 23-year-old Andrea Aguirre, 46-year-old Angelica Colin, 88-year-old Raul Colin, 85-year-old Teresa Colin, and 35-year-old Raul Perez Colin.

The suspect driver, 45-year-old Larry Glen Rolen, was arrested for multiple counts of intoxicated manslaughter.

The tragic event was widely covered as well as the subsequent legal proceedings. As the two-year anniversary of the senseless incident nears, a review of court documents show that the criminal proceedings have taken an unexpected turn.

Timeline of Events

December 22, 2021  - A Nissan carrying a family of five is struck head-on by a truck traveling in the wrong lane of the 500-block of west St. Francis Ave. Four of the five family members are declared dead at the scene. The fifth victim succumbs to her injuries several days later.

News sources state that first responders on the scene observed signs of intoxication in the driver, 54-year-old Larry Glen Rolen II.

Rolen is arrested several days later on four separate charges of Intoxicated manslaughter and a fifth charge of intoxicated assault (the initial charges were filed before the fifth victim died of their injuries).

December 29, 2021 - A civil suit is filed against Rolen by relatives of the victims.

July 5, 2022 - A Potter County grand jury indicts Larry Glen Rolen II on five counts of intoxicated manslaughter.

February 6, 2023 - Potter County DA presents a successful motion to amend the indictment against Rolen to include assault with a deadly weapon (his pickup truck).

July 23, 2023 - Potter County judge signs an order for dismissal of civil suit following a $1 million insurance settlement with the driver as well as a separate settlement with an establishment said to have overserved Rolen the night of the crash.

September 26, 2023 - A 3-day trial begins. Numerous witnesses are called by both parties. The jury deliberates for 8.5 hours before returning with no verdict. Results in a hung jury despite a dynamite charge.

A dynamite charge is a casual term for an Allen charge. This is a special instruction that is given in the event that "jurors cannot agree on a verdict and report this to a judge, the judge may issue further instruction to them to encourage those in the minority to reconsider their position."

What's Next

A review of the case summary states that at a hearing held on October 23, a new trial date was set for March 18, 2024.

Jury selection for the new trial will begin on February 20, 2024.