A tragic collision in Missouri City resulting in the deaths of a mother and son has led to a police officer being relieved of duty. Officer Blademir Viveros, 27, was involved in a two-vehicle accident on June 20, which claimed the lives of 53-year-old Angela Stewart, a Houston ISD counselor, and her 16-year-old son, Mason Stewart. FOX 26 Houston reports that the crash occurred on Cartwright Road when the officer’s police SUV collided with the Stewart’s 2005 Toyota Corolla.
According to the statement obtained by ABC13, the Stewarts were leaving a Dollar Tree parking lot when Mason, who recently received his driver's license, pulled out and was struck by the eastbound police vehicle driven by Viveros, who was reportedly exceeding the speed limit while responding to an armed robbery. Notably, the police car did not have its emergency lights activated at the time. The victims’ family told ABC13 that the incident took place on Mason's 16th birthday.
Early findings of the ongoing investigation by the Missouri City Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, as reported by FOX 26 Houston, suggest that the Corolla failed to yield right-of-way. The impact was so severe that wreckage was strewn across 300 feet of the roadway. Shortly after the incident, Viveros was hospitalized but has since been discharged.
Adding to the complexity of the case, a man named Michael Hawkins, 53, was discovered in the police vehicle's back seat two hours following the crash – a detail vehicled by Officer Viveros, for officers to respond to calls if someone is already in custody. Hawkins is currently receiving treatment at Ben Taub Hospital. Missouri City PD has yet to explain Hawkins' presence and why it took an extended period for his discovery. Viveros, with nearly a year's service in Missouri City and two prior years of law enforcement experience, has been relieved of duty pending the investigation outcome, as per a department statement assuring that they are committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of the community.
