A west Houston block is grieving and demanding answers after a 3-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run on Ocee Street in early November. The child was crossing the road with his mother when he was struck, authorities say, and he later died from his injuries. Investigators have recovered a vehicle they believe is tied to the crash, but officers say no one was inside when they found it.
What police say
According to the Houston Police Department, the collision happened shortly after 10:40 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the 3500 block of Ocee Street, near the Westpark Tollway. HPD's Vehicular Crimes Division reported that the boy ran into the roadway and was hit by a vehicle described as a red Toyota pickup. Officers later located an unoccupied vehicle they believe may be linked to the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Hit-and-Run Unit at 713-247-4072.
Reward and how to tip
Reporting by FOX 26 Houston notes that people who call 713-222-TIPS (8477), use the Crime Stoppers mobile app, or submit information online may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000. According to Crime Stoppers of Houston, only tips submitted directly to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for payment. The Crime Stoppers site also outlines how to send in video or other footage for investigators to review.
Family account and past crashes near Ocee
The boy was identified by relatives as Mohammad Yahya Hasanzai. His father told KPRC/Click2Houston, "I watched him die in my arms." Mohammad's mother said she had been walking with him and his 5-year-old sibling when he slipped from her hand and ran into the street. She told the station she believed the vehicle that struck him was a black SUV, a detail that differs from HPD's description of a red Toyota pickup. KPRC's coverage also points out that another child-pedestrian was killed near the same intersection in May, a pattern that has alarmed neighbors in the area.
What the law says
Under Texas law, any driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death must stop, stay at the scene, and provide reasonable assistance. Leaving the scene of a crash when a death has occurred can be charged as a second-degree felony, according to an analysis by the Texas Legislature. That charge carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors consider how a driver behaved after the collision when deciding what charges to pursue. So far, authorities have not announced any criminal charges in the Ocee Street case.
How to help
Investigators are asking anyone with information or video from the night of Nov. 1 to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS, use the Crime Stoppers app or website, or reach out to the HPD Hit-and-Run Unit at 713-247-4072. According to the Houston Police Department, tips can be anonymous and may qualify for the reward if they lead to an arrest. Police are urging residents and drivers in the area to review any doorbell camera or dashcam footage and share anything that might help identify the person responsible.
