KLEIN, Texas – Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said Monday that an impaired driver is responsible for a crash that killed a mother, two of her children and another child on Sunday near Klein.
Herman said the driver, 35-year-old Daniel Canada, will be held accountable after he essentially, “snuff(ed) a family out of existence.” He is expected to appear in court Wednesday.
The 7-vehicle crash happened Sunday night at FM 2920 and Gosling Road.
Officials said multiple people were injured and several vehicles were on fire. Officials said a mother and child who were in one of the burning vehicles died at the scene. Two other children from that vehicle were flown to a hospital, where one was pronounced dead and another was placed on life-support. Investigators said the 2-year-old who was on life support died at a Houston hospital on Monday afternoon.
Another person from another vehicle was transported by ground with non-life-threatening injuries, investigators said. All other occupants involved had no or minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
Herman said Canada’s vehicle, hit the 28-year-old mother’s vehicle at high speed. Canada is expected to survive and has bumps and bruises from the crash. He was originally charged with one count of intoxication assault with serious bodily injury and three counts of intoxication manslaughter with the possibility of upgraded charges.
However, since the 2-year-old on life support died, his intoxication assault charge was upgraded to intoxication manslaughter. Canada will remain in custody until his upcoming court date, authorities said.
Herman said the suspect’s blood alcohol content is the “main contributing factor” in this case. He said it was .15%. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, you are legally intoxicated in Texas when your blood alcohol concentration reaches 0.08%.
“I really don’t want to put my personal thoughts into it because it wouldn’t be too nice,” Herman said. “But professionally, I can tell you that law enforcement continues to fight the good fight against our impaired drivers (with DWI initiatives among local sheriff and local constables.)”
The names of the family members who died have not been released, pending notification of the family.
Stopped minutes before crash
Monday afternoon, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Canada was pulled over by a deputy at 8:08 p.m. -- about 20 minutes before the crash happened.
According to a written statement from the Sheriff’s Office, the deputy observed a vehicle speed past him and stopped the vehicle on the Interstate 45 frontage road at Parramatta Lane. A substance believed to be marijuana was confiscated at the scene and sent for testing, officials said.
“The deputy reported that the driver displayed no outward signs of impairment and was released from custody,” officials said in the statement.
Officials said the traffic stop is being reviewed by the internal affairs division of the Sheriff’s Office.
More video
Watch a replay of Herman’s news conference in the video player below.