Fort Worth police Officer J. Rivera
Fort Worth Police Department
A 27-year-old man who seriously injured a Fort Worth police officer while driving intoxicated was sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.
Wilson Guevara Mejia pleaded guilty to intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury to a police officer, the DA’s office said Monday in a social media post.
Fort Worth police Officer J. Rivera was helping the driver of a truck that had stalled on a ramp on westbound Loop 820 at the north/south split of Interstate 35W in February 2023 when Mejia’s vehicle sped toward him without stopping, according to the DA’s office.
With nowhere to escape, Rivera clung to the side of the overpass. The vehicle hit him and caused him to fall approximately 25 feet into a concrete drainage area, officials said.
Rivera suffered a traumatic brain injury, fractured pelvis, broken wrists, shattered elbow and other serious injuries. He underwent multiple surgeries and was told he might not return to police work, the DA’s office said.
“He refused to accept that. With the support of his family and fellow officers, Officer Rivera fought his way back — returning to duty two and half years later to continue protecting and serving his community,” the DA’s office said.
Mejia admitted to consuming more than eight beers and a shot of tequila before driving, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.213% according to the post. The legal BAC limit in Texas is 0.08%.
This story was originally published October 5, 2026 at 8:01 PM.
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Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.