2017-03-10 Marricle

Intoxication Manslaughter – Fatal Crash at 6th Avenue and Adams Street

Joseph Lee Marricle, 40, of Wolfforth, Texas, was killed in a two-vehicle crash in the early morning hours of March 10, 2017, at the intersection of 6th Avenue and South Adams Street in Amarillo. Both drivers involved showed signs of intoxication and were arrested. One driver was later indicted, pleaded guilty, and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Crash Details

The wreck happened around 2 a.m. when a white Mitsubishi that had been eastbound on 6th Avenue collided with a black 2002 Dodge Dakota that had been northbound on South Adams Street.^[1]

According to Amarillo police, one of the vehicles ran the red light and the front of the pickup struck the passenger side of the Mitsubishi. The front passenger in the Mitsubishi, 40-year-old Joseph Marricle, from Wolfforth, died at the scene.

Justice of the Peace Gary Jackson ordered an autopsy for Marricle.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, 29-year-old Arturo Hernandez, and the driver of the pickup, 46-year-old Richard Britten, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both drivers had signs of intoxication, so officers arrested them. They were booked into the Potter County Jail on a charge of Intoxication Manslaughter with a Vehicle.

APD's Traffic Investigations Unit investigated the crash.

Indictment

An Amarillo man was indicted for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle following a March 2017 crash that killed one man.^[2]

According to court documents, 46-year-old Richard Britten was indicted on July 19 for the death of 40-year-old Joseph Lee Marricle.

The crash happened in the early morning hours of March 10, when the pickup Britten was driving ran a red light, striking the side of the Mitsubishi Marricle was a passenger in.

When officers arrived, police said Britten showed signs of intoxication. The driver of the Mitsubishi, Arturo Hernandez, also showed signs of intoxication. Both men were arrested.

Guilty Plea and Sentencing

An Amarillo man indicted for intoxicated manslaughter pleaded guilty.^[3]

Richard Lee Britten, 46, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for a wreck back in March.

On March 10, Britten ran a red light and hit another vehicle.

The passenger in that vehicle, Joseph Marricle, 40, died at the scene.

Lab tests showed Mr. Britten's blood alcohol content to be .142 at the time.

Timeline

• March 10, 2017 (Friday, ~2 a.m.): Two-vehicle crash at 6th Avenue and South Adams Street; Marricle killed at scene; both drivers arrested for intoxication manslaughter

• July 19, 2017: Richard Britten indicted on intoxication manslaughter charge

• February 2, 2018: Britten pleads guilty

• February 5, 2018: Britten sentenced to 12 years in prison