CHANNELVIEW, Texas – Three people have been accused of running a family off the road, forcing the victims' car into a pole.
Harris County sheriff's deputies said Steven Rangel, 27, was with his three children at the Key truck stop in Channelview on Jan. 5. Rangel was meeting a man who was going to polish the rims on his vehicle.
While at the truck stop, deputies said Rangel was approached by Cody Evans, with whom Rangel was having an ongoing fight.
Rangel told Evans, 18, he was with his children and didn't want any problems.
When the man Rangel was meeting walked up to him, Evans punched him, said deputies.
Rangel then drove away and headed westbound onto the I-10 East feeder road.
Evans followed him in a van driven by Michael Estrada, 21, and a truck driven by Alexandro Bravo, 24, also followed Rangel, said deputies.
Rangel was blocked in by the two vehicles and Evans threatened him with a knife, said deputies. He then tried escaping by driving his vehicle into a ditch, but both vehicles followed and rear-ended him several times, said deputies.
Detectives said Rangel was forced off the road and eventually crashed into a pole.
Rangel and his three children were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Rangel suffered broken ribs, a broken shoulder and punctured lungs. One of his daughter's right foot was amputated, his other daughter suffered a broken collarbone and his son's tongue was reattached.
All have apparently been released from the hospital.
Evans, Estrada, and Bravo face several charges, including aggravated assault and first-degree injury to a child.
Evans was arrested Saturday morning in Carmen, Okla. at the home of a family member.