Lynlee Pollis is on trial on intoxication manslaughter and assault charges in the 2023 crash that killed SMU student Honor Wallace.
DALLAS — A toxicology expert testified that a woman accused in a 2023 crash that killed 19-year-old Southern Methodist University student Honor Wallace had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.294%, nearly four times Texas’ legal driving limit.
Lynlee Pollis, 27, is standing trial in Dallas County on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault stemming from the Sept. 24, 2023, collision. Prosecutors allege Pollis was intoxicated, speeding and ran a red light before striking the car Wallace was driving. Wallace died after the crash, and a passenger in her vehicle was injured. Pollis’ attorneys acknowledge that she was speeding and ran the light but dispute the state’s allegation that she was intoxicated.
Brittany Welch, a toxicology chemist, testified that testing of Pollis’ blood after the crash produced a blood-alcohol reading of 0.294%. Texas sets the legal blood-alcohol limit for most drivers at 0.08%. Welch told jurors that reaching the level found in the sample could have required roughly six to 11 standard alcoholic drinks, depending on factors affecting absorption and consumption.
The defense has challenged the reliability of the blood evidence. Attorneys George Milner and Scott Palmer questioned the collection and testing process and argued that the sample could have been compromised. Milner also questioned whether the tubes used to preserve the blood were appropriate for alcohol testing. Prosecutors have relied on the toxicology evidence as one part of their case that Pollis was intoxicated at the time of the collision.
Jurors also heard testimony about the speed of Pollis’ vehicle before the crash. Dallas Police Detective Mike Phillips testified that vehicle data showed the car accelerating from about 63 mph to 67 mph during the final five seconds before impact. The posted speed limit in the area was 35 mph, according to trial testimony. A crash reconstruction expert said the traffic signal facing Pollis had been red for about five to seven seconds when she entered the intersection.
Wallace was driving through the intersection on Monticello Avenue with a green light when Pollis’ vehicle struck her Volkswagen Jetta, according to testimony reported from the trial. The impact briefly lifted Wallace’s vehicle from the roadway. Her passenger suffered a broken collarbone, while Pollis suffered injuries that included a fractured ankle and a head injury, according to the reports.
An arrest-warrant affidavit previously reported by Dallas news organizations said an officer who encountered Pollis at a hospital after the crash observed glassy eyes, slurred speech and the smell of alcohol. According to the affidavit, Pollis told investigators she had consumed one margarita with tequila before the collision. At trial, the defense has disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence and maintained that poor driving alone does not establish intoxication.
The case centers on whether prosecutors can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pollis was intoxicated and that the alleged intoxication caused Wallace’s death and the passenger’s injuries. Intoxication manslaughter in Texas can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years, while intoxication assault can carry a sentence of up to 10 years. Pollis is presumed innocent unless convicted.
Wallace was a sophomore at SMU who studied Spanish and English and had moved to Dallas from Michigan, according to university reporting. Her death drew attention across the campus after the 2023 collision, while the criminal case moved through the Dallas County court system over the following three years.
The trial began Sept. 28 and was scheduled to resume Monday, Oct. 5, after testimony concluded for the week. Jurors had not reached a verdict as of the latest reports, and additional evidence and arguments were expected when proceedings continued.
Author note: Last updated October 3, 2026.