ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A Merkel woman believed to be intoxicated when she caused a crash that injured 7 people in Abilene Thanksgiving Day could be facing criminal charges. 

Catherine Randolph, 64, was among the 7 injured and remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Police told KTAB and KRBC she could be charged with Intoxication Assault and/or Injury to a Child pending results from the investigation and laboratory tests that are currently underway. 

Randolph was driving a truck with 2 passengers inside when police say she “failed to control its speed” and slammed into the back of an SUV stopped at a light at the intersection of Hwy 36 and Loop 322 around 1:00 p.m. Thursday.

“There was no evidence of. . . braking prior to impact,” a press release states. 

Both passengers in Randolph’s truck, an adult male and a juvenile, sustained minor injuries and were released from the hospital after receiving treatment. 

All 4 occupants of the SUV, 2 juveniles and 2 adults, were hospitalized as well. Police say 1 juvenile and an adult have since been released, but the other adult was transported to a hospital in the Metroplex and the other juvenile remains in serious condition at a local hospital. 

BigCountryHomepage will provide more information on this crash when additional details are released.