HOUSTON – Charges have been filed against the suspect in a fatal crash on Highway 288.
It was a somber day for students at Beverly Hills Intermediate School after they learned one their classmates and her stepfather were killed in car crash over the weekend.
Eighth-grader Donna Davis, 15, and Joe Ledet, 35, were killed Sunday morning when the car they were in was hit by a drunken driver, police said.
Davis' mother and 3-year-old sister were also in the car at the same time.
Police said at around 2:30 a.m., Joshua Gilbert, 24, was driving over 100 mph on Highway 288 near Airport Road when he slammed into the back of the family's car.
Davis and Ledet died at the scene, while the girl's mother suffered severe injuries. Davis's sister had a broken ankle. Both were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital; the mother in critical condition.
Police said Gilbert was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
At Beverly Hills Intermediate School on Monday, Donna's classmates struggled to cope with her death.
"Instantly when I got into the building I just started crying because she wasn't there," Amber Citizen said. "She was outgoing. She loved to laugh. I loved her smile. I just don't understand why."
Many classmates wore the color blue to school Monday in honor of Donna, who they said recently put blue braids in her hair.
"Donna was an energetic young girl who played on the campus basketball team," School Principal Stacey Barber said in a statement. "She will be greatly missed."
In the same statement, Pasadena ISD officials said, "We are greatly saddened by the loss of this child. Our deepest condolences go to Donna's family. News of Donna's death has touched the lives of many of our students and staff."
Gilbert was arrested and charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxicated assault.