A Dallas jury has found a local woman guilty of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault following a deadly 2023 crash that claimed the life of a 19-year-old Southern Methodist University student on a Central Expressway feeder road.
Lynless Pollis was convicted in Dallas County state district court after prosecutors presented evidence that her blood alcohol concentration measured 0.294 percent following the crash — nearly four times the legal limit of 0.08 percent in Texas. A toxicology chemist testified that Pollis likely consumed between six and eleven standard alcoholic drinks to reach that level.
The fatal collision occurred on September 24 2023 at approximately 4:20 p.m. near the Monticello Avenue exit along the northbound North Central Expressway service road. Dallas Police said Pollis ran a red light in her Lexus SUV and struck a Volkswagen Jetta driven by SMU student Honor Wallace who had a green signal at the time.
Wallace a 19-year-old sophomore from Grosse Pointe Michigan who was majoring in Spanish and English died as a result of the crash. Her passenger and close friend Catherine Solberg survived but suffered a broken collarbone and a concussion. Solberg testified that she woke up in the hospital with no memory of the collision itself.
Responding officers noted that Pollis had glassy eyes slurred speech and smelled of alcohol at the scene. A police affidavit revealed Pollis told officers she had consumed a margarita and tequila shots at Mutts Canine Cantina located less than two miles from the crash site before driving home.
Defense attorneys George Milner and Scott Palmer acknowledged that Pollis was speeding and ran the red light but argued she was not legally intoxicated at the time. They challenged the blood alcohol analysis and pointed to witnesses who said Pollis did not appear drunk. The jury ultimately rejected that argument.
Pollis was transported to the hospital following the crash with minor injuries. A Siberian Huskie that was in the vehicle with her was uninjured and released to her father.
Intoxication manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison while intoxication assault carries up to 10 years. Sentencing proceedings are expected to follow the verdict.