Harris County deputies are again asking the public to help crack a deadly hit-and-run in the Waller area that claimed the life of 78-year-old Jerald Wayne Skaines on the 29000 block of Old Washington Road last year. Investigators say Skaines was walking near the center of the westbound lane on the night of May 23, 2025, or in the early hours of May 24, when a pickup struck him and left the scene. Waller County first responders arrived and found Skaines with no signs of life. Deputies said the striking vehicle stopped roughly 100 yards away before fleeing.
Vehicle description and tip lines
According to ABC13 Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office believes the vehicle of interest is a 1994–2001 Dodge Ram pickup. Investigators asked anyone with information to call HCSO at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-8477, the station reported.
HCSO outline of the collision
As detailed by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, deputies said Skaines failed to yield the right of way and was struck while walking in the westbound lane. The driver reportedly skidded to a stop about 100 yards from the scene, then left without rendering aid. The agency’s media page lists a May 24, 2025 release for the 29000 block of Old Washington Road, indicating the sheriff’s office has kept the case active while continuing to appeal to the public for leads.
Pickup trucks and hit-and-runs are a wider problem
The local case fits into a troubling national pattern. Hit-and-run crashes remain a persistent part of pedestrian fatalities, and light trucks are playing a larger role. The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that roughly one in four pedestrian deaths involves a hit-and-run and notes that SUVs and pickups are increasingly common in those collisions. That makes the pickup description in this case especially important for investigators.
What the law says
Under Texas law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in a death brings serious consequences. Texas Transportation Code § 550.021 makes an offense involving a death a second-degree felony and requires drivers to stop, check for injuries, and stay at the scene until they meet reporting and aid requirements.
Investigators say the case remains active and urged anyone with information to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-8477. Tips may be submitted anonymously and could be eligible for a reward. Authorities also asked residents who were driving in the area on May 23 or 24, 2025, to review dashcam or doorbell footage and call with anything that might help.
