HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Authorities said a suspect fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen truck struck another vehicle, killing an innocent driver in northwest Harris County on Friday.
According to Tommy Diaz, Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement Command with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the events that led to the crash started around 2:54 p.m. today when officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety located a vehicle that was reported stolen out of San Antonio.
Recommended Videos
DPS contacted the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and requested assistance from marked units. The marked units were able to locate the vehicle near the intersection of the Grand Parkway and Highway 290.
Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, which they said was a white Ford F-250. They said the vehicle refused to stop and a chase began.
Authorities said the pursuit lasted around nine minutes and went about 14 miles from Highway 290 to the crash site at the Grand Parkway feeder road and SH-249.
Diaz said the suspect exited the highway and got onto the feeder road approximately three-fourths of a mile west of the crash location. Primary units involved in the pursuit were unable to exit at the time, but secondary units were able to get off the highway.
A minute or two later, Diaz said deputies came upon the scene of the crash at the intersection of the Grand Parkway feeder road and SH-249.
The suspect vehicle had crashed into another vehicle on the driver’s side. That driver of the vehicle was killed.
The suspect was taken into custody at that time. Emergency medical services also responded to the scene.
“It’s an incredibly tragic event,” Diaz said.
Diaz said the suspect is 29-years-old. They said they aren’t sure where exactly he is from at this time, but the truck was reported stolen out of San Antonio.
The suspect was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. He is potentially facing charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest in a motor vehicle, and vehicular manslaughter.
There was also a motorcycle in the roadway following the crash. Authorities said the motorcycle was in the bed of the stolen vehicle when the crash occurred. It is unclear if the motorcycle was also stolen.
There were no other people in either the stolen vehicle or the vehicle which was struck by the suspect.