HOUSTON – An aggravated robbery suspect took Harris County sheriff’s deputies on a chase that ended in a deadly crash in northeast Houston Wednesday night, investigators said.
It happened at the intersection of Lockwood Drive and Laura Koppe Road close to 11 p.m. and involved seven vehicles.
According to the Houston Police Department, a woman, who has been identified as Autrey Faith Simone Davis, died in the crash and two children, ages 5 and 2, were injured. Investigators said a deputy also had to be taken to the hospital.
The incident may have been connected to two possible robberies at two separate locations prior to the crash.
According to HPD, the initial call was about an armed robbery at a gas station along the Eastex Freeway. When a deputy was responding to that call, investigators said he noticed a man leaving a CVS along Tidwell in a vehicle that matched the suspect vehicle description of that robbery at the gas station. He attempted to pull the car over but the driver took off, investigators said. Investigators said speeds reportedly reached in excess of 80-90 mph during the pursuit.
The chase ended when the deputy entered the intersection of Lockwood and Laura Koppe and there was a collision with a black vehicle. Authorities said the black vehicle involved in the crash had three people inside-- Davis and the two children inside the car.
According to authorities, both children were taken to the hospital. The 5-year-old is in critical condition and the 2-year-old is stable, investigators said.
The deputy was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital and is in stable condition. A bystander said he and others helped pull that deputy from his burning car.
Police said three other adults with minor injuries were also transported the hospital.
Investigators from the HPD Robbery Division were at the CVS on Tidwell and said surveillance confirmed there was a robbery there involving an armed suspect.
Colby Jelks told KPRC 2 Brittany Jeffers it was a difficult morning cleaning up after witnessing the deadly crash. He owns a food truck in the parking lot at the corner of the intersection where the crash happened. He and other witnesses watched the suspect drive by.
“I was late night serving food and all of a sudden you hear the sirens,” Jelks said. “A police car comes right around on his heels… It was like a domino effect and all the rest of them toppled over.”
“When I looked, I saw a car coming flying and then a police car came behind. The next thing you know, it was like a ‘boom,’” LaKeitha Blount, another witness said.
HPD has taken over this investigation. The suspect still has not been found.