State lawmaker in wreck, charged with DWI

AUSTIN (KXAN) - State Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, an El Paso Democrat who is considered a rising star in Texas politics, was charged with driving while intoxicated early Thursday after being involved in a traffic wreck.

Gonzalez , 34, is in her second term . Her office is currently aware of the arrest, but has not released an official statement.

She bonded out of the Travis County jail after 3 p.m. Thursday.

Police said Gonzalez was arrested around 2 a.m. after the vehicle she was driving struck another vehicle, which then hit a bicyclist near South Congress Avenue and Barton Springs Road. Several people were hurt in the crash, and Gonzalez was among those taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening police said.

According to an affidavit, Gonzalez told detectives she was at the W Hotel that night and had two drinks -- one beer and one Old-Fashioned -- before she went to the Capitol to pick up her car.

Police said Gonzalez blood-alcohol content level was 0.164.

Gonzalez came to the Texas House after defeating state Rep. Norma Chavez in the Democratic Primary in 2010. After her first session in 2011, she was named Freshman of the Year by the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and the Legislative Study Group. This session, she is the vice chairwoman of the House Human Services Committee.

She received her law degree from St. Mary's University Law School in San Antonio in 2003.

Gonzalez issued this statement on her official Facebook page :

"Obviously recent events are concerning for me.
However, I would like to say first that my thoughts and prayers go out to the other persons involved. I hope you understand, I won't be commenting further until the legal matters have been resolved.
I appreciate the support I have received from my family, my colleagues and my friends. I am committed to moving forward and continuing the important work of this legislative session."