A high-speed chase down Highway 249 resulted in a severe rollover crash late Tuesday night, leaving a man and a woman critically injured. The incident began when Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constables attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Chevy Tahoe in Northwest Harris County. According to FOX 26 Houston, the driver refused to pull over, initiating the chase that led to the vehicle losing control and flipping over on Southbound 249 at Compaq Center Dr around 11:30 p.m.
The chase, which Texas Department of Public Safety officials say included the Tahoe driving erratically on and off the highway and feeder road, came to a drastic end when the driver tried to cross the grass median. The SUV lost control and went across all southbound lanes before striking the center divider. According to ABC13, this action caused the SUV to roll over, culminating in severe injuries for its occupants.
In the aftermath of the crash, it was reported that the female passenger was ejected over the concrete barrier and landed in the northbound lanes. She is currently in critical condition. The male driver, who was partially ejected and pinned under the wreckage, was also listed in critical condition, while a third occupant sustained minor injuries. All injured parties were transported to a hospital in The Woodlands.
As investigators begin to sift through the wreckage to understand the motivations behind this calamity, they are left to ponder why the driver chose to not only evade the law but to do so with such reckless disregard for safety. "Investigators said they didn't know why the driver decided to run from police. That will be part of their ongoing investigation," states ABC13. The roadway, which was closed for hours due to the crash, has since reopened as DPS continues its investigation.
This intense chase is under ongoing investigation by Montgomery County DPS units. As of yet, no further details have been disclosed regarding the cause of the initial traffic stop that set off the harrowing events. Those with information regarding the chase and ensuing crash are encouraged to come forward to assist law enforcement with their inquiries.
