September 16, 2016
(McKinney, Texas) – Connie Sue Cason, 49, of Garland, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for two counts of Manslaughter, announced Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis.
On August 25, 2013, just after 9 a.m., Dale and Laura Thomas left their home in Lucas to attend Sunday church service at East Fork Baptist Church in McKinney, where Dale taught Bible school and both sang in the choir. Less than a mile from their home, they entered the two-lane, mile-long bridge over Lake Lavon on FM 3286. Cason, heading in the opposite direction, suddenly veered across the yellow divider lane directly into the Thomas’ lane of travel. Driver Dale Thomas attempted to avoid Cason’s vehicle by moving onto the shoulder, but Cason hit the Thomas’ truck head-on at approximately 60 miles per hour, pinning their truck and pushing it backwards along the guardrail of the bridge.
Laura Thomas was killed instantly. Dale Thomas was alive upon arrival of fire department and EMS personnel, but was pronounced dead a short time later at Medical Center of Plano. Cason told emergency personnel on scene that she believed she fell asleep. Emergency personnel transported Cason to Medical Center of Plano, where she told medical staff that she smoked methamphetamine earlier that morning. Cason’s medical records also indicated that methamphetamine was present in her body.
Cason was charged with two counts of Manslaughter for recklessly causing the Thomas’ deaths by failing to maintain a single lane, failing to control her vehicle, failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to timely apply her brakes, failing to stay awake, and for the introduction of an illegal controlled substance into her body prior to operating a motor vehicle.
The jury convicted Cason on both counts of Manslaughter with a Deadly Weapon and sentenced her to 15 years in prison.
The case was investigated by several DPS troopers, including Senior Corporal Shannon Thomas. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Calli Bailey and Cynthia Walker prosecuted the case, aided by DA Investigator Mike Smith.
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