Walmart Employee Runs Over Co-Worker After Getting Drunk During Lunch Break

A Texas man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison — the maximum penalty — after a tragic drunk driving incident outside a San Antonio Walmart claimed the life of his co-worker.

Prosecutors say 20-year-old Gabriel Rosas had been drinking during his lunch break in April 2024 when he got behind the wheel and fatally struck 49-year-old Margaret Ureste, who was leaving work for the day.

Police arrived at the Walmart on Southeast Loop 410 to find Ureste unresponsive in the parking lot. She was rushed to a local hospital but died days later on May 1. Rosas was detained at the scene, where witnesses said he appeared intoxicated.

Investigators determined that Rosas had consumed alcohol earlier that day before getting into his vehicle. As Ureste crossed the lot after finishing her shift, Rosas hit her with his car, killing her.

“This case is a reminder of the life-altering consequences that stem from drinking and driving,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said after the sentencing. “We are thankful the court recognized the gravity of this offense and delivered justice for Margaret’s family.”

Ureste had worked at Walmart for six years and was remembered by loved ones as a devoted mother and a caring friend. Her obituary described her as someone who “enjoyed being with her family, going out, or simply relaxing on the sofa playing on her phone.” She leaves behind three children.

Rosas pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter and will serve his sentence in a Texas state prison.