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Christopher Johns • September 20, 2020

Texas DPS Trooper’s Chase Ends in Crash

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety officials, two major crashes occurred early Saturday morning on I-45 North Freeway because a driver was fleeing from troopers.

Details of the Accident

DPS troopers attempted to stop a motorist, who was driving a Kia going southbound on I-45 at Hardy Toll Road. The female motorist took off at a high rate of speed and ended up crashing into two vehicles.

Troopers said that two people were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital The Woodlands with minor injuries.

Video from Houston TranStar cameras showed one of the vehicles had rolled over.

The 20-year-old driver of the Kia was eventually apprehended by troopers and is facing charges with felony evading and possession of marijuana, according to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Police Chase Car Accident by the Numbers

According to an in-depth report from USA Today , approximately 11,506 people, including 6,300 fleeing suspects, were killed in police chases from 1979 through 2013, the last year that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released records regarding this specific data.

That comes out to almost a person a day, but the numbers may not be entirely accurate as some police reports may not disclose that a police chase occurred. The NHTSA uses police reports to gather data.

It’s hard to say exactly how many innocent people are killed as a result of police chases because NHTSA–in most cases–doesn’t distinguish whether a victim was killed in a car fleeing police or in a car that happened to be hit during a chase.

Analyzing each fatal crash, USA TODAY determined that:

  • At least 2,456 bystanders were killed, although the death toll could be as high as 2,750.
  • 55% of those killed were drivers fleeing police.
  • They ranged from armed-robbery suspects to a 10-year-old boy chased as he drove a pick-up truck 85 mph on a county road before hitting a tree, killing himself and his 7-year-old passenger.

For 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that fleeing or evading police resulted in:

  • 19 fatal crashes
  • 50 suspected serious crashes
  • 80 possible injury crashes
  • 44 unknown severity crashes

Experienced Houston Car Accident Attorneys Ready to Advocate on Your Behalf

Unfortunately, there are drivers who flee from police for a variety of reasons and leave our law enforcement officials to make a judgment call on whether or not they should pursue. While police officers have protocols in place that are meant to keep the public and them safe during such pursuits, the individuals fleeing most likely don’t, and they can cause significant injuries to innocent bystanders. That is why Lapeze & Johns are here to fight on your behalf.   

 

If you’ve been injured due to a police chase, the car accident lawyers at Lapeze & Johns, PLLC can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Book Your FREE Consultation Today

Source: KTRK

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By Keith Lapeze • February 24, 2022
Industrial accidents can affect not only the employees working at a plant, but also the residents in the surrounding areas. These accidents can cause burns, lung damage, and brain injuries to anyone who comes into contact. In Texas where chemical plants are common, these accidents are particularly frequent. Learn more about exactly how common and […] The post How Common are Industrial Accidents in Texas? first appeared on Lapeze & Johns.
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