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SAPD: Man, 36, arrested on murder charge after fatal head-on crash during officer pursuit

Joseph Woolard, 36, charged with murder of Asante Contreras, 20, police say

Joseph William Woolard, 36, has been charged with murder and evading arrest following a fatal car crash on Sunday, May 3, 2020, booking records show. This mugshot is from a previous arrest. (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police have arrested a man who is accused of causing a wrong-way crash that killed a 20-year-old.

Joseph William Woolard, 36, has been charged with murder and evading arrest, booking records show.

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Asante Sebastian Contreras was killed in the wreck that happened around 9:45 p.m. Sunday at the Northeast Loop 410 and northbound Interstate 35 interchange, according to police.

Officers said Woolard was being pursued by police and drove his vehicle the wrong way onto a northbound ramp connecting Loop 410 and I-35. He crashed head-on into the car Contreras was in.

Contreras died at the scene, police said. Woolard was transported to the hospital after the crash, police said.

It is not immediately clear why Woolard was evading police. In addition to murder, Woolard was also charged with felon in possession of a firearm.

Woolard has a long arrest record in Bexar County and was recently accused of attempted capital murder of a police officer.

In March 2019, Woolard engaged in a shootout with a Bexar County deputy at the Blazing Star RV Resort in the 1100 block of West Loop 1604, Sheriff Javier Salazar said at the time.

Suspect ID’d in deputy-involved shooting at RV park on far West Side

The deputy tried to pull him over when Woolard bailed from his vehicle, ran to the resort, pulled out a shotgun and began firing at the deputy, Salazar said at the time. The deputy was not injured.

Salazar described Woolard as “dangerous” and a “career criminal."

Since 2009, Woolard has been previously arrested on charges of possession, assault, evading arrest and driving while intoxicated.

More local news:

Law enforcement to provide honor escort for fallen Bexar County deputy

Woman pushing shopping cart hit, killed by pickup truck, police say

San Antonio police ID driver who lost control of SUV, struck concrete barriers before he was hit by truck


About the Author
Rebecca Salinas headshot

Rebecca Salinas is the Digital Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News. A San Antonio native, Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019.

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