A 5-year-old passenger is dead after a high-speed crash on the Gulf Freeway Thursday evening, and the driver now faces a felony manslaughter charge with no bond, according to court records.
ABC13 reports the wreck happened in the 16700 block of the Gulf Freeway near FM 2351, where investigators say a vehicle traveling at high speed slammed into another car. Houston Police identified the driver as 60-year-old Daniel Ruiz and said a 5-year-old in his vehicle was riding in the front passenger seat without a child safety seat. Court documents obtained by ABC13 show Ruiz is charged with manslaughter and a judge has denied him bond.
Court Records: Prior Child-Abandonment Arrest At Race Track
Court records show this is not the first time Ruiz has faced allegations involving a child’s safety. In December 2024, deputies found a young child alone inside a vehicle at Sam Houston Race Park. According to FOX 26 Houston, deputies said Ruiz left the child unattended for more than four hours and was charged with child abandonment with intent to return.
Child Safety Rules And Context
Records reviewed by ABC13 show Ruiz later received four years of probation in that 2024 case.
Texas law requires that all children younger than eight, or shorter than 4 feet, 9 inches, be secured in an appropriate child passenger safety seat. The Texas Department of Transportation recommends following manufacturers’ instructions and keeping children buckled in the back seat whenever possible. Safety advocates say that when a child is unrestrained in a high-speed crash, the risk of a fatal injury jumps dramatically.
Legal Implications
Prosecutors have charged Ruiz with manslaughter, which under Texas law applies when someone “recklessly causes the death of an individual,” according to the Texas Penal Code. The offense is a second-degree felony. Punishment for a second-degree felony ranges from two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, per Texas statute. Prosecutors and the court will decide whether to seek any sentence enhancements or additional charges as the case moves ahead.
What’s Next
Ruiz remains charged in the child’s death, and the case will move through Harris County courts with bond denied, according to court filings. The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors have not yet announced a court date.
