Drunk driver sentenced to 18 years in prison for Poteet officer's death

Officer Poteet Jeffrey Richardson and his wife Silvia. COURTESY PHOTO

A woman was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for killing Poteet Reserve Police Officer Jeffrey Richardson, 33, on June 29, 2022, while driving drunk.

The Travis County District Attorney's Office said Thursday that Lindsay Smith pleaded guilty before a jury sentenced her to 18 years in prison for intoxication manslaughter. Smith was 26 years old at the time of the incident.

Richardson was providing foot security at a construction site in North Austin near the property at 1700 North MoPac at the time of the incident.

After responding to a 911 call about a vehicle striking a pedestrian, the Austin Police Department (APD) arrived and found Jefferson seriously injured. Smith remained at the scene where she failed a sobriety test.

Richardson was rushed to hospital where he later died.

Poteet Police Chief

Bruce Hickman said

Police chiefs from Round Rock and Austin as well as other departments and their communities have shown immense support for Richardson.

Hickman, Lt. Rodriguez, Officers DeLuna, Aragon, and Gonzalez and other law enforcement officers escorted Officer Richardson's body to the medical examiner's office in Georgetown on June 29.

At the time of Richardson's death, Hickman praised the medical staff at St. David's Round Rock Hospital, who cared for Richardson and stood outside the hospital as his motorcade passed by.

“I was impressed to see that almost every driver on the highway ramp was standing in front of their cars as the motorcade passed,” Chief Hickman said at the time. “I would like to thank Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward and all law enforcement agencies in Atascosa County for their pledges of support, as well as TMPA and the 100 Club.”