In a tragic incident during an attempted traffic stop in Harris County, three teenagers lost their lives and three others are seriously injured following a high-speed chase that ended when the vehicle they were in collided with a tree. The Harris County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies attempted to pull over a reportedly stolen vehicle in the area of Rolling Creek Drive, which led to a brief but deadly chase.
According to FOX 26 Houston, the pursuit was initiated around 12:16 a.m. Thursday and lasted merely 40 to 45 seconds. During this brief time, the vehicle was said to have reached speeds close to 90 mph before the crash occurred near Rolling Terrace Drive and Sorrel Ridge Drive. It tragically resulted in the death for half of the vehicle's occupants, all of whom were reported to be between the ages of 14 to 15 years old.
Investigators at the scene noted that evidence suggested the presence of "smash and grab" tools within the vehicle, including hammers and gloves, and found that the teens had their faces covered, as mentioned by KPRC 2. Two of the victims were ejected from the car, dying upon impact, while the third was declared dead on arrival. The three survivors were hurriedly transported to a hospital with serious conditions.
The incident is under thorough investigation. The sheriff's office confirmed that its pursuit review board will examine all video from the chase to ensure deputies followed pursuit policies. Additionally, the Internal Affairs Division is investigating.
