Months after a deadly motorcycle crash on San Antonio’s Northwest Side, police have arrested a man they say was racing when his passenger was thrown from the bike and killed.
According to investigators, 38-year-old Marcus Garcia is now facing a second-degree felony charge of highway racing causing serious bodily injury in connection with the death of 29-year-old Brittani Flanders.
The crash happened just after midnight on February 19 along Culebra Road near Tezel Road. Police say Flanders was riding on the back of a motorcycle when she fell off and suffered catastrophic injuries. She later died at a local hospital from blunt force trauma.
Investigators say Garcia originally claimed he and Flanders had switched passengers with another motorcycle rider during a late-night ride. But after reviewing surveillance footage from several businesses along Culebra Road, detectives say the evidence told a different story.
According to the arrest affidavit, cameras captured two motorcycles allegedly speeding and racing westbound. Police believe Garcia accelerated aggressively while trying to outrun the other rider, causing Flanders to lose her grip and fall from the motorcycle. Investigators also said Garcia had little riding experience, did not have a motorcycle endorsement, and had only recently purchased the bike.
Authorities estimated one of the motorcycles was traveling more than 70 mph in a 45 mph zone before the fatal crash.
The tragedy is another reminder of how quickly things can go wrong when speed and inexperience mix on two wheels. Motorcycle passengers are especially vulnerable during hard acceleration, racing, or reckless riding situations because they have little protection once stability is lost.
Garcia was booked into the Bexar County Jail with bond set at $150,000. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.