HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – An infant is dead after a multi-vehicle crash involving two sedans and a wrecker truck at a northwest Harris County intersection, deputies said.
“A baby that hasn’t even had a chance to really see the world yet, and he’s taken from his family,” Chief of Harris County Vehicular Crimes Division Sean Teare said.
The crash happened around 10 a.m. in the 6600 block of Cunningham Road near West Little York Road on Sunday.
Authorities with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office say the wrecker truck, which had a vehicle in tow, was traveling at a high rate of speed while heading eastbound on the roadway.
Officials said a Nissan, with a mother and infant inside, was stopped at a red light at the intersection of West Little York and Cunningham.
The tow truck driver, identified as 39-year-old Jose Luna, ran into the back of the stopped Nissan before dragging it into a ditch.
“We see this all too often,” Teare said.
During that incident, the vehicle that was attached to the tow truck flipped upside down and also landed in the ditch.
“We see no indication that there was any breaking prior to the impact,” Teare said. “He ran into the back of that Nissan [and] drove them a number of feet into the ditch.”
The baby boy, who was believed to be between 4 and 7 months old, was taken to an area hospital where he later died, according to officials. His mother was also taken to the hospital. Her condition was unknown.
“When you drive like that with a complete disregard for anyone else around you, things like this happen,” Teare said.
Officials said Luna stayed on the scene after the crash and was taken into custody.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has accepted manslaughter charges against Luna.
Authorities said Luna has a criminal history, including aggravated sexual assault of a child.
KPRC 2 reached out to the company of the tow truck driver for a comment, but have not heard back.