On Sunday, just before 11 p.m. in Midtown, a driver who said they had been drinking crashed into a Houston Police Department patrol car at Chenevert and Tuam. Two officers and two men from the other car were injured. All four were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover.
How the crash unfolded
Police said two officers were driving north on Chenevert in a marked patrol car when a sedan going west on Tuam did not stop at a stop sign and struck the cruiser at the intersection. The collision caused heavy front-end damage and deployed the airbags in the HPD vehicle. The officers were not responding to an emergency call at the time.
Investigators are reviewing physical evidence at the scene along with video from OnScene TV to piece together what happened. According to Houston Chronicle, Sgt. David Rose said the crash will be closely examined to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
Injuries and investigation
The two officers, assigned to HPD’s South Central Station, and the two men in the sedan were transported to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Officials said their conditions were stable and their injuries non-critical.
Officers at the scene said both men in the sedan told investigators they had been drinking earlier in the evening. Police said blood or breath tests will be used to determine whether the driver was legally intoxicated at the time of the crash. As reported by ABC13, all four people involved were conscious when they were taken from the scene and are expected to be ok.
Neighbors and context
Residents in the area told reporters that the Chenevert and Tuam intersection has been trouble for a long time. The junction sits just south of downtown near U.S. 59 and within walking distance of several Midtown bars, a combination neighbors say leads to a steady stream of risky driving.
The crash came less than 24 hours after another suspected DWI collision in the Heights that injured an HPD officer, leaving multiple officers hurt in separate suspected impaired-driving wrecks over the same weekend. Community members say they want stronger enforcement and clearer signs at the intersection. Click2Houston noted that neighbors have repeatedly flagged the area for dangerous driving and close calls.
Possible charges and penalties
Under Texas law, crashes involving intoxicated drivers and injuries are treated as serious crimes. Intoxication assault is typically charged as a felony, and intoxication manslaughter brings even harsher penalties if someone is killed.
Prosecutors could pursue intoxication assault or related counts if testing and the full investigation indicate the driver was impaired or caused serious bodily injury. The Statutes state that convictions for these offenses can result in prison time, fines, and additional penalties such as license suspensions.
What’s next
HPD said the crash remains under active investigation and has not released the names of the officers or the civilians involved. No arrests or charges had been announced as of Monday.
Investigators have asked anyone with video or information about the incident to contact detectives as they finish toxicology testing and compile their findings. Click2Houston reported that reporters have reached out to HPD for additional comment, and authorities are expected to provide further updates as the case moves forward.
