Amanda Byford and Diamantina Uribe, two of the three drivers involved in the Sep. 18 crash, urged voters to oust Wyatt as they revealed new details about the incident at a press conference with Marc Cowart, the Republican running against Wyatt in the Nov. 3 election.
The women said they have not received damages for the crash and have not heard from Wyatt or law enforcement since the incident.
Though officers found no indication that Wyatt was driving under the influence, per a crash report, Uribe and Byford each said they believe she may have been intoxicated and showed no apparent concern that she had been in a car crash.
“She looked dazed and confused to me,” said Byford. “She was trying to put the airbag back into the steering wheel column, and I thought, ‘well that’s strange.’”
Wyatt also sought to leave the scene immediately despite significant damages to her car.
“I got off and checked on her, and she was like, ‘You need to move. I’m running late to a meeting,’” said Uribe.
Wyatt initially alleged to police that the three other vehicles had been stopped on Interstate 45, but dashcam footage and a diagram of the crash included in the crash report showed Wyatt aggressively changing lanes and rear ending all three vehicles before coming to a stop. No one was badly injured in the crash, according to the report.
It was not immediately clear if law enforcement investigations into the crash or alleged lack of insurance remain pending.
Wyatt’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a Sept. 25 screening with the Houston Chronicle editorial board, Wyatt said her legal troubles have no impact on her professional ability.
“Car accidents happen every day,” Wyatt said at the meeting. “As far as my personal life is concerned, it has nothing to do with my ability to do my job.”
Uribe said she was treated later that day in an emergency room for a concussion as well as back and shoulder injuries. She would like to pursue a civil claim against Wyatt for the damages, including for roughly $10,000 in medical costs and $6,000 in out-of-pocket car repairs, but her previous lawyer withdrew from the case after learning that Wyatt did not have insurance. Uribe said she is seeking new representation.
The county treasurer heads a small office of roughly a dozen staff members that has seen its duties eroded by advances in digital banking and other technology that has led to the role being labeled “obsolete” by officials and experts.