Man killed when car plows into home was paralyzed from legs down, family says

CROSBY, Texas – A man was killed when he lost control of his vehicle and smashed into a house in Crosby neighborhood.

According to authorities, the crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday on Bluff View Drive and Foley Road.

The man – identified by family members as 39-year-old Nicholas Bowens - was speeding when he lost control of his vehicle at the turn of Bluff View and Foley, smashed through a guard rail and plowed into a home on the corner, deputies said.

Authorities said the car went all the way into the house and Bowens was killed in the crash.

Family members said Bowens was a father of two who was left paralyzed from the legs down after a car accident and used a customized vehicle to drive.

A friend of Bowens said the car had instruments to help him brake and speed up.

"It was to control his brakes and to control how fast he goes,” said Cameron James Hales. “He could steer on his own."

Hales said Bowen was a good person.

“He was a good man and his intentions were good,” said Hales. “It’s hard … nobody ever wants to go through something like this.”

Responders with the Crosby Fire Department said this is the second time a car has crashed into the home. The first time happened on the Fourth of July in 2018, authorities said.

The home is under construction because of the first crash, so it was unoccupied when the second crash happened, deputies said. 

Investigators are still working to determine if the driver was impaired or had a medical emergency that led to the crash.

"Unfortunately someone lost their (life) this morning,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “We will try to determine exactly what happened.”


About the Authors:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.