USPS postal worker killed in hit-and-run crash in north Houston; driver involved sought

HOUSTON – A 29-year-old postal worker was killed in a hit-and-run crash in north Houston Saturday.

Houston police said the crash happened at 243 Julia Street.

According to Patricia Cantu, Assistant Chief with HPD, they were called around 3 p.m. to the intersection of Julia and Bauman.

Cantu said they have video footage of a postal vehicle attempting to make a left hand turn onto Bauman when an impatient driver of a white Ford Expedition tried to go around him. The Ford clipped the postal vehicle, pushing it into a ditch where the vehicle fell on the worker after he was ejected.

“It looks like when it moved forward into the ditch, the video looks like maybe he flipped out of the truck, you know how they have the doors open, that’s what it looks like,” Cantu said.

Cantu said several people came to the drivers aid and also attempted to stop the suspect vehicle from leaving the scene.

HPD said witnesses pushed the truck off of the mail carrier, but the suspect drove off.

“I commend the community for coming to his aid and doing everything they can to try and save the postal workers life,” Cantu said.

The postal worker was transported to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

“It’s a very very sad day, this postal worker will not get to go home to his family today and so we’re just very very sad, we’re going to be praying for his family,” Cantu said.

Cantu said they have the license plate of the vehicle and have witnesses of who the driver is.

“Go ahead and turn yourself in because we know who you are, we have witnesses who could put you here and who can identify you,” she said.

Cantu said police went to the home the vehicle was registered to and the person claimed the vehicle was stolen.

“We did go to the house, the person claimed it was stolen so we’re going to see where that takes us and the person that owns the truck lives not too far from here, so once again we do know who the people are, we do have a license, we have a good description, once again if it is stolen, we do have good witnesses who can identify the suspect,” she said.

A neighbor shared a surveillance video with KPRC 2, showing the white 2011 Ford Expedition driving away from the crash.

Neighbors said the mail carrier is known to brighten everyone’s day.

“He was a great guy, he was a young guy, always had his music on,” said Hugo Navarro.

“He was very happy and like very respectful,” Caleb Capata said.

Capata said the mail carrier just delivered the mail to his house not long before the crash.

“He was happy and listening to music. It was very sad,” Capata said.

USPS released a statement after the crash:

“The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the loss of life suffered today involving an Oak Forest Post Office Letter Carrier. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this time.”

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Hit and Run Unit at 713-247-4072 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.