Teacher Allegedly Driving 117 MPH Charged in Fatal Crash

A Texas teacher has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly driving 117 miles per hour on a freeway prior to striking two motorcyclists.

Per a crash report obtained by inForney.com, on February 22, 2021, at approximately 8:29 p.m., Rickala Chaffold, 24, drove a 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA westbound in the 3100 block of the LBJ TEXpress, or Interstate Highway 635.

Citing video surveillance footage, investigators believe Chaffold was driving 117 miles per hour six seconds before she made contact with two motorcycles in the left lane.

The first motorcyclist, 16-year-old Atreyu “Trey” Gowen of Mesquite, Texas, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The second motorcyclist, 28-year-old Paul Arnett of Dallas, Texas, was seriously injured and transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Per a police report, both motorcyclists were determined to be traveling at a speed of about 72 miles per hour at the time of the crash.

In March, Chaffold was arrested at her place of employment, Forney High School, and was charged with manslaughter. She was booked into the Dallas County Jail, where her bond was set at $15,000.

In response to the incident, Forney Independent School District spokesperson Kristin Zastoupil told inForney.com, “Allegedly, a staff member was involved in an auto-accident that occurred off campus and after hours. Upon learning of the incident and charges, the person was immediately placed on administrative leave.”

The outlet reports that Chaffold had been employed at the school since August 20, 2020.

As reported by CBS DFW, the grand jury who indicted Chaffold said she was “operating a motor vehicle at an unsafe speed and a speed not prudent for the conditions.”