HOUSTON – A Christmas party got out of hand Thursday night in northwest Houston when, witnesses said, a guest insisted on driving home intoxicated.
Now that driver is in jail, facing criminal charges for an alleged hit-and-run accident.
Philip Grierson said his wife, Lola Grierson, has been in a hospital since she was hit by Josette Jetson, who he said was intoxicated and trying to leave a party.
"She (Lola) ran out there as well to stop her from leaving because she appeared intoxicated or was high on something because she came here like that," Grierson said.
He claims Jetson was brought to the house as a guest of their daughter-in-law. He told Local 2 that his wife was shoved into the brick home, pinned under the garage door and has to have emergency surgery.
The scene of the crime was still covered in blood Friday morning.
Jetson left after she hit Grierson, damaging the house, other cars and a county pole, according to Precinct 1 deputy constables.
She was gone by the time deputy constables arrived, but they went to her house, arrested her, then charged her with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and intoxicated assault.
"We're not worried about the house at all; that's just material things," said Zachary Zeno, whose family has lived in the house for more than two decades and considers his injured neighbor to be like family. "She's like a mother to me. For something like this to happen, it's shocking for something like this to happen."
Ben Taub Hospital said that Lola Grierson is in fair condition. Philip Grierson said she underwent surgery Friday morning and should make a full recovery.