Garner Burford faces charges related to a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed one woman and injured another, according to Corpus Christi police.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Corpus Christi man charged in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash was back in court today as the case moves closer to trial.
Garner Burford appeared before Judge David Klein in connection with a March 2024 crash that left one woman dead and another person injured.
Burford faces charges including collision involving death and collision involving serious bodily injury.
Today’s hearing is part of the pre-trial process as attorneys prepare for jury selection later this summer.
The charges stem from a crash that investigators say happened in the early morning hours of March 2, 2024, in the 2900 block of South Padre Island Drive.
According to Corpus Christi police, a passenger car was struck by another vehicle, forcing it off the roadway and into a building pillar. The driver of that vehicle, 27-year-old Marissa Mendoza, was killed in the crash. A 23-year-old passenger was also injured and taken to the hospital.
Investigators later determined the suspect vehicle had fled the scene. The following day, officers located a damaged vehicle parked in the Weber and Tripoli area that matched the description of the suspect vehicle involved in the crash.
Traffic investigators say that discovery helped lead to the arrest of 31-year-old Garner Burford, who was later booked into the City Detention Center.
In court, Burford’s case is now progressing toward trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin July 24th, with the trial expected to begin July 27th.
The case remains active in Nueces County as both sides prepare for testimony and evidence presentation later this summer.