Passenger who jumped from moving vehicle dies after punching suspected drunken driver

HOUSTON – A 42-year-old man is facing a charge of driving while intoxicated after Houston police said he admitted to being impaired after a passenger fell out of his vehicle and died.

Rodney Prejean was driving at 12:40 a.m. Monday with a 44-year-old man as his passenger in the 10100 block of the service road of the Southwest Freeway when Prejean said the passenger struck struck him in the face with a closed fist. Prejean said the passenger jumped out of the moving vehicle after hitting him.

Prejean stopped the vehicle and stayed at the scene, according to reports. He admitted to officers that he was drunk, and investigators determined that he was impaired, according to a release from police. He was charged with driving while intoxicated.

Prejean also told investigators that the victim was under the influence of narcotics. Police said narcotics were found inside the vehicle.

Houston police are still investigating the incident.