Police chase ends in deadly crash in Katy, officials say

KATY, Texas – A police chase that started with an attempted traffic stop ended in a deadly crash Sunday afternoon when the fleeing driver crashed his vehicle into three trees in Katy, Harris County deputies said.

The incident was reported at 2:25 p.m. in the 20000 block of Kingsland Boulevard at Houghton Road.

Officials said a Harris County deputy attempted to stop James McGraw, but he didn’t pull over, which prompted the chase.

Deputies said that during the chase McGraw hit a wooden utility pole damaging the right side of the back of the Honda Civic and kept going.

Witnesses told Channel 2 News that McGraw was fleeing from police at a high rate of speed down Kingsland Boulevard when he suddenly lost control and slammed head-on into a thick patch of trees.

They said the car was cut into two pieces with the driver’s side of the vehicle taking the brunt of the impact.

“The car was split in half. Like, the entire engine, the front door, the back fender, the front fender, everything was just completely detached from the rest of t the car,” said Martin Anchia, who added that he heard the sound of crunching metal.

People who heard the crash and saw the aftermath called it carnage.

Witnesses believe the car hit the trees at 100 miles per hour.

Officials said McGraw was wearing a seat belt, but was ejected and found lying behind one half of the car.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.


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