SUGAR LAND, Texas – Authorities say a Sugar Land city worker was killed in a major crash following a police chase on Highway 90A on Wednesday.
The crash happened on the stretch between Industrial and Eldridge.
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Sugar Land city officials told KPRC 2 they have identified the victim as 56-year-old Joseph Aponte. Aponte has been employed with the public works department since last January.
JUST IN: 56-year-old Joseph Aponte, a City of Sugar Land employee, is the victim in today’s pursuit that started in Missouri City and ended with a fatal crash in Sugar Land. He had been employed with the public works department since last January. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/oY06EtXuxw
— Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) February 7, 2024
What happened?
Officers in the area of Texas Parkway and Fifth Street in Missouri City received a call in regards to a residential burglary at 10:08 a.m. The burglary was confirmed in the 1100 block of Crestmont Place Loop.
Police said when officers located two of the suspected vehicles, they started to follow them.
A traffic stop was initiated on one of the suspect vehicles in the area of Highway 90 in Stafford but the suspect fled. Officers chased the vehicle on Highway 90 into the city of Sugar Land.
A video shared with KPRC 2 appeared to show the suspects and the officer weaving in and out of traffic lanes.
At around 10:30 a.m., at the intersection of Highway 90 and Gillingham Lane, police said the suspect vehicle ran a red light and struck another vehicle in the intersection.
The SUV flipped upside down in the opposite lanes, and the truck, barely standing upright.
“As you can imagine, this is one of the worst days imaginable for us,” said Doug Adolph with the City of Sugar Land.
NEW AT 10: Videos shared with @KPRC2 shows a Missouri City police officer chasing 3 burglary suspects before they ran a red light and crashed, killing a City of Sugar Land employee. Details in minutes on KPRC 2 at 10.
— Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) February 8, 2024
🎥: kev_tinez pic.twitter.com/17nlQ1CB7p
The innocent driver, later identified as Aponte, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surveillance video shared by a neighbor shows what appeared to be a Toyota Highlander speeding away from the house with the trunk still open as a bag falls into the street.
“Officers were trying to do their job, you know, apprehending two felony criminal suspects and the loss of life is certainly tragic,” said Lt. Jeff York with the Missouri City Police Department.
Missouri City PD are now reviewing the pursuit, as they do with all pursuits. But it’s too early if Aponte’s death would result in any policy changes.
The driver and two passengers inside the suspect vehicle were all taken to hospitals for injuries sustained in the crash, police said.
The second suspect vehicle was stopped in Houston and the driver was taken into custody.
The suspects could possibly face murder charges.