SAN ANTONIO- A man with a history of DWI convictions now stands accused of drinking and driving again and causing a deadly crash. 40-year-old William Joe Rhomer was convicted of three DWIs prior to allegedly crashing into 40-year-old Gilbert Chavez, who was riding his motorcycle at Nakoma and Colwick early Wednesday morning.
The accident happened within a mile-and-a-half of Chavez' home. Chavez' wife Samantha said Gilbert was a devoted father to his three kids and loved hitting the road on his Harley. She said Wednesday's accident was the third on his motorcycle, but none of them were his fault. The couple was run off the road about five years ago by a drunk driver while riding their bike.
Samantha says Gilbert's death is even more painful because of Rhomer's three previous convictions.
"He (Rhomer) needs to be locked away. He doesn't need to be out there where he can hurt anyone else," she said. "No family deserves to go through this."
"Why would he be out there?" she wondered. "Why are they letting him still drive?"
Records show Rhomer was first arrested for DWI in 1999 and sentenced to a year on probation. He was sentenced to two years in prison for his third DWI in 2007. He was in the Bexar County Jail Wednesday night, charged with intoxication manslaughter.
Jail records show Rhomer made a $100,000 bond and is set to be released as early as Thursday. As part of his conditions of bond, Rhomer will be required to be fitted for a GPS ankle monitor. He will also have to have an alcohol detection device installed on his car.
Jail records show his next court date is set for June 1st.
