Andrew Vidovich was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $5,000 after changing his plea to guilty in a Brown County intoxication manslaughter case tied to a motorcycle crash that killed his wife.
The Brown County District Attorney’s Office said Vidovich was scheduled for trial on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, before Judge Sam Moss. As the trial began, he pleaded guilty to the indicted offense of intoxication manslaughter, according to a Friday news release reported by Brownwood News.
Crash near the Hideout
The case arose from an Oct. 25, 2024, wreck on F.M. 3021 near the Hideout Country Club. Vidovich was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with his wife, Marti Vidovich, riding as a passenger.
The couple had been traveling with another couple. The two couples stopped for lunch and drinks in Coleman, consuming more than 32 drinks between them, and later continued drinking at the Hideout. They then left for the San Angelo area.
Vidovich traveled about 1.3 miles before failing to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle left the roadway, became airborne and flipped across a ditch. Both people were thrown from the motorcycle. A witness reported that the bike was traveling at an excessive speed.
Marti Vidovich, 35, died at the scene. Vidovich was taken to Hendrick Medical Center in Brownwood with a shoulder injury and scrapes.
Evidence presented in court
A blood test at the hospital showed Vidovich’s blood alcohol concentration was .238. A blood draw conducted three hours after the crash under a search warrant showed a concentration just below .16. Further analysis detected cocaine and lorazepam in his blood.
Texas law presumes a person is intoxicated at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. During the punishment phase, prosecutors presented evidence about the crash investigation and Vidovich’s prior felony drug-related charges in California, for which he had served probation.
District Attorney Micheal Murray and Assistant District Attorney Elisha Bird presented the state’s case. DPS Highway Trooper Jacob Wheeler led the crash investigation, with assistance from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Lake Bridge Volunteer Fire Department.
Vidovich testified that he had not used cocaine on the day of the crash and had not used it for about a month and a half. Under cross-examination, he admitted he had lied and acknowledged using cocaine that day.
Sentence and possible next step
The prosecution sought a prison sentence that would reflect the offense and deter others from driving while impaired. The defense asked for probation, citing the couple’s child and arguing that Vidovich had turned his life around.
Evidence showed that Vidovich and Marti Vidovich had one child together, and that each also had a child from a separate relationship. Prosecutors argued that Vidovich’s alcohol and cocaine use and his decision to ride the motorcycle while impaired showed disregard for the children’s welfare.
Judge Moss sentenced Vidovich to 10 years in prison and imposed a $5,000 fine. The judge retains jurisdiction for 180 days after sentencing and may release Vidovich from prison and place him on probation during that period.