A driver fleeing police in a stolen vehicle slammed into a business in the 9700 block of Scott Street in South Houston around 10 p.m. Sunday, injuring two customers inside. The car caught fire, and the driver suffered superficial lacerations and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to Click2Houston, a stolen vehicle was pursued near Scott Street. The driver lost control on a street off Scott Street before the vehicle crashed into the building. The crash also struck another vehicle parked in front of the business, per the outlet's report.
The car caught fire, the station's report states. Two customers inside the business were struck by the vehicle and taken to an area hospital in stable condition. The investigation remains ongoing, per the same account.
How Texas Law Escalates a Stolen-Car Charge
Each of the three charges carries its own statutory weight under Texas law. Under Texas Penal Code § 31.07, unauthorized use of a vehicle is a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to two years in state jail and a fine of up to $10,000, according to FindLaw — notably, prosecutors do not need to prove intent to permanently keep the vehicle, unlike with grand theft auto.
Fleeing from police behind the wheel raises the stakes further. Under Texas Penal Code § 38.04, evading a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle is a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to two years in state jail, as discussed by Brian Foley Law. Separately, Texas Transportation Code § 545.401 defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property — a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine, per Varghese Summersett.
Houston Motor Vehicle Thefts Declined
The Houston Chronicle reported that motor vehicle thefts in Houston fell nearly 20 percent between 2023 and 2024, from roughly 19,000 reported cases to 15,345.
In a September 19 Bellaire-area chase, a stolen vehicle pursuit began on Scott Street near the 610 West Loop, reached about 120 mph, and ended in a crash on Bissonnet Street and an arrest.
The 9700 block of Scott Street is in South Houston. Sunnyside has a property-crime index of 149, compared with the national baseline of 100, according to DoorProfit. Scott Street runs through Third Ward and nearby residential areas, and the corridor has seen other serious wrecks this year, including a five-vehicle pileup near Cullen and Scott on the Gulf Freeway in April.
For now, Houston police say the investigation into Sunday's crash remains ongoing, with no further details released on the condition of the two injured customers or the extent of damage to the business.
