04/20/2026
DRUNK DRIVER KILLS TWO PEOPLE; SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN TDCJ
After a two-week trial concluding on April 17, 2026, Rayna Elizabeth Smith was convicted of two counts of INTOXICATION MANSLAUGHTER and sentenced to 5 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and a $10,000 fine on each count. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively, for a total of 10 years’ imprisonment. Additionally, the jury found that Smith used a deadly weapon—her vehicle—while committing the offense.
Intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony in Texas, punishable by 2 to 20 years in TDCJ and up to a $10,000 fine. The deadly weapon finding will affect Smith’s future parole eligibility and require her to serve one-half of her sentence, or 5 years, day-for-day before becoming eligible for parole.
This case stems from a tragic series of decisions made in the early morning hours of October 13, 2022, following a night of drinking. While under the age of 21, Rayna Smith consumed alcohol and became intoxicated. Friends initially transported her from Guitars and Cadillacs in Amarillo to her home in Canyon, Texas, in an effort to ensure her safety.
However, soon after returning home and without her friends’ knowledge, Smith chose to leave her home and drove herself back to Amarillo to continue her night. Her actions escalated when she attempted to return to Canyon and drove the wrong way on Interstate 27.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., while traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-27 near the McCormick Road bridge, Smith collided head-on with the victims’ vehicle. The crash caused the tragic deaths of two young adults, Alicia Bustos and Analuisa Mendoza. Smith was removed from her vehicle and survived.
During trial, Smith’s attorney asserted that she had no recollection of the events, despite Smith having provided statements to law enforcement after the crash.
This case underscores the devastating and irreversible consequences of impaired driving. Two lives were lost, families were forever changed, and a young person now faces years in prison—all as the result of preventable choices.
We strongly urge the public to plan ahead and never drive while impaired. Safe alternatives are readily available:
• Use a rideshare service or taxi
• Designate a sober driver before going out
• Stay where you are if you’ve been drinking
• Take the keys from someone who is impaired
Driving under the influence is not just illegal—it is deadly. One decision can have lifelong consequences.
The successful prosecution of this case was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Canyon Police Department, the Randall County Sheriff’s Office, and the investigators and prosecutors of the Randall County District Attorney’s Office.
Alicia Bustos and Analuisa Mendoza were both college students attending Eastern New Mexico University. Although no criminal conviction can repair the loss their families have suffered, the Randall County District Attorney’s Office hopes these verdicts provide a sense of justice. With the family’s permission, a photo of Alicia and Analuisa is being shared. May they rest in peace, and may their family and friends find solace.
If you drink, do not drive. Use a sober ride. Lives depend on it.