A late-night traffic stop in west Harris County turned into a life-or-death emergency on Wednesday when a Jeep fleeing from deputies plowed into a sedan at Fry Road and Tealbrook Drive, critically injuring a woman in her 30s. Firefighters had to cut the victim from the mangled car before she was rushed to a hospital, where authorities said her condition was so grave she might not survive.
Short Pursuit Ends In Violent Rear-End Crash
Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office first tried to pull over the Jeep in the 7100 block of Fry Road around 10 p.m. after reports it was possibly racing in the area, according to Click2Houston. The driver refused to stop, sparking a brief chase that ended moments later when the Jeep slammed into the rear of a southbound sedan at Fry Road and Tealbrook Drive.
Woman Trapped, Driver Of Jeep Suffers Minor Injuries
The woman behind the wheel of the sedan was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extricated before being taken to a hospital in critical condition. Investigators said she may not survive her injuries, FOX 26 Houston reports. The Jeep’s driver was also transported to a hospital, but only with minor injuries, according to officials.
Possible Murder Charge On The Table
Deputies told Click2Houston that the Jeep’s driver is facing multiple charges and could be charged with murder if the woman in the sedan dies. The names of those involved have not been released, and investigators stressed that the case is still very much active.
Who Decides The Charges
Sgt. B. Bondurant of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office told FOX 26 Houston that a district four deputy initiated the attempted traffic stop. Any final decisions on charges will be made by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which reviews and prosecutes felony cases in the county, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
How A Chase Can Turn Into A Homicide Case
Under the Texas Penal Code, criminal homicide covers murder, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Murder can be charged when a death occurs during the commission of a felony or in immediate flight from one, and it is typically treated as a first-degree felony, as stated by the Texas Penal Code. Prosecutors will have to decide whether the Jeep driver’s actions meet the intent or recklessness standards for murder or a lesser homicide charge before filing any case.
Crash investigators remained at the scene collecting evidence and reconstructing the collision. Officials said that in the immediate aftermath of the wreck, no charges had yet been filed as authorities and reporters worked through the initial details.
