HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A child died after being ejected during a two-vehicle crash early Sunday morning in northwest Houston, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash happened around 12:40 a.m. near T.C. Jester Boulevard and Tomlinson Trail Drive.
A marked sheriff’s office vehicle was traveling south on T.C. Jester when a Toyota pickup heading north turned west across its path. The intersection has no traffic signal or stop sign for drivers on T.C. Jester.
The vehicles collided, sending the sheriff’s office unit into a brick subdivision entrance. The impact caused the pickup to spin and stop facing south. The driver, described as a man in his 50s or 60s, had a child younger than 12 in the front passenger seat, authorities said.
The child was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the pickup. The deputy performed CPR at the scene, and resuscitation efforts continued until the child arrived at a hospital, where the child was pronounced dead.
“I don’t believe this was a serious enough accident to cause a death, but because the child was not seatbelted and was ejected, that is the main cause at this point for that child’s death,” said HCSO Major A. McConnell at the scene.
Authorities said the pickup driver showed signs of intoxication. Investigators are seeking a warrant for a blood sample, and the driver could face an intoxication manslaughter charge involving a child if testing confirms he was impaired.
“If you know this family, reach out to them. They’re gonna need your support,” McConnell said. “If you don’t know this family, please pray. They’re gonna need your support.”
The deputy was assigned to the sheriff’s office Crisis Intervention Response Team. A clinician was riding in the passenger seat at the time. Both suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital. They were not responding to a call when the crash occurred.
The sheriff’s office Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Division are investigating. Investigators said they had no indication speed played a role and planned to download data from both vehicles and review any available video.