A predawn crash on Houston's North Highway 6 killed a 48-year-old driver on Sunday after a red Ford F-150 slammed into a disabled gray Cadillac XT5 stopped along the roadway, triggering a chain reaction that proved fatal. The Ford's driver fled on foot, returned about an hour later, and was ultimately arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid.
According to the City of Houston Newsroom, the crash occurred at 1401 North Highway 6 at about 4:25 a.m. Sunday. The Cadillac's driver had been stopped along the roadway and was outside his vehicle when the Ford struck it, setting off the deadly chain reaction, according to the same release. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene.
Police identified the charged suspect as Jorge Alberto Zuniga, 39, who is now facing intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid in a vehicle involving death, with both charges filed in the 263rd Criminal District Court. The Harris County District Attorney's Office was consulted before Zuniga was arrested and charged, the release states. The identity of the deceased man, described as 48 years old, is still pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Suspect Fled, Then Returned to the Scene
Per the same account, the Ford driver fled the crash scene on foot immediately after the collision. He came back roughly an hour later and was detained by officers, who determined he was intoxicated. No toxicology results, a blood-alcohol figure, or other details about how officers reached that determination were included in the release.
Adult female passengers riding in both vehicles suffered minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital, the report notes. The crash circumstances were documented by HPD Vehicular Crimes Division Sergeants K. Bui and E. Alejandro, along with Officer J. Trevino.
A Stretch of Road With a History of Fatal Wrecks
This is not the first fatal crash reported along North Highway 6 in recent years. The Houston Police Department investigated a fatal crash in the 2900 block of North Highway 6 in August 2025 that killed a 67-year-old man, and the department also investigated a fatal hit-and-run in the 3600 block of North State Highway 6 back in April 2022 that killed a 46-year-old woman.
Under Texas law, a person commits intoxication manslaughter if they operate a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated and, by reason of that intoxication, cause another person's death by accident or mistake, according to the Texas Constitution and Statutes. No further details on citation numbers, bond, a plea, or a court schedule were available at the time of the release.
