HOUSTON – Charges have been upgraded against a man accused of causing a major 3-vehicle crash that killed a 3-year-old boy and injured several others while driving intoxicated in Spring, according to the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office.
Rosendo Gaeta, 35, is now facing multiple charges for intoxicated manslaughter with vehicle, intoxicated assault with vehicle causing serious bodily injury, intoxication assault and two counts of failure to stop and render aid/ accident involving serious bodily injury.
He did not show up to court early Friday. A judge set his collective bond amount for $2,250,000.
If bond conditions are agreed upon, Gaeta cannot make any contact with the family of the 3-year-old, or the injured victims in the crash, cannot drive a car without a properly-installed ignition lock, and not possess any alcohol or drugs, among many more.
Here’s what happened:
The crash happened just before 9 p.m. Wednesday in the 5900 block of FM 2920 Road, according to Constable Mark Herman with Harris County Constable Pct. 4.
Upon arrival, constable deputies said they found two adults and the 3-year-old child injured and learned the driver at fault fled the scene of the crash on foot. The 3-year-old child was taken to Memorial Hermann via Life Flight with life-threatening injuries.
As officials canvassed the area, they were able to find and detain the Gaeta, who displayed multiple signs of intoxication.
Investigators learned that Gaeta was driving at a high rate of speed and crashed into the victim’s vehicle which was stopped at a red light.
The boy’s parents are expected to recover from their injuries, authorities said.
Gaeta was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail, where he was charged with two counts of intoxication assault, two counts of failure to stop and render aid causing serious bodily injury, and one count of failure to stop and render aid during a motor vehicle accident. His bond has not been set at this time.
Gaeta appeared before a Magistrate Judge on the intoxication assault and failure to stop and render aid charges Thursday evening. He was scheduled to appear on a later docket Thursday at 10 p.m. on upgraded charges, following the boy’s death.
Nicole Gordon said she was at the intersection when she saw the truck Gaeta is accused of driving crashing into a car.
“Something just told me to look right,” Gordon said, describing what she saw once she did.
“When I looked right I had seen the truck hit the car. And once the car hit the car in front of it, it just kept moving, the car, to the stop light.” Gordon described a chain reaction, allegedly caused by Gaeta, who hit the car driven by the boy’s mother, which, in turn, struck another SUV.
“Nothing would have been able to stop that truck,” Gordon said.
Gordon pulled into the parking lot of a Walgreens at the intersection, hoping all involved were okay. That’s when she said she noticed the boy’s body.
“I just started crying and started interceding for him because the only thing I can offer is prayer,” Gordon said.