Harris County Suspect Dies in Crash During Police Chase

A 30-year-old driver in Harris County died on Thursday after he crashed into a tree while being pursued by police. The driver reportedly drove through red lights while speeding and crossing into multiple lanes. No bystanders were injured in the accident.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies initiated the pursuit after they witnessed the driver speeding, crossing lanes, and failing to stop at a red light. The driver failed to pull over for the police in Northwest Harris County at some time around 11:30 on Thursday night.

Authorities have identified the driver as a man in his 30s who allegedly took off rather than pulling over, leading police on a 5 minute chase during which he clipped the vehicle of a bystander after failing to stop at another red light. Following that collision, the man lost control of his vehicle on Barker Cypress and Tuckerton and ran into a tree where he was pronounced deceased on the scene.

During the chase, deputies report seeing the fleeing driver throw objects from the window of his moving vehicle. One small bag which was recovered may contain methamphetamine or other drugs, according to authorities. The bystander whose vehicle was clipped by the fleeing driver was not injured in the crash.

Surprisingly, emergency vehicles including police cars are actually involved in car accidents nearly 5 times more often than other vehicles. This is largely due to the fact that these vehicles often have to drive at high speeds in order to reach emergency situations.

For every million cars on the road, these kinds of pursuits cause twice as many motor accidents as the general public. Police pursuits specifically are the cause or a factor in 300 deaths in the United States every year, a significant increase over rates during the 80s and 90s.

While these fatalities are always a tragedy, an alarmingly high portion of these deaths, 30%, impact individuals not involved in the chase itself. Car accidents are also a serious issue for police themselves, accounting for half of all police fatalities between 1998 and 2008.

If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident, including accidents involving police pursuits, you may be eligible for compensation.

Car collisions, especially those involving fatalities, are always frightening for all of those involved, including the loved ones of the deceased parties. The aftermath of these losses can leave us feeling confused and isolated.

However, if you or someone you love has been in a crash, you don’t have to have to face the recovery process alone. The Houston car accident attorneys of Lapeze & Johns would be proud to represent you in civil court.

Source: ABC13

Harris County Suspect Dies in Crash During Police Chase

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