HOUSTON – A teen was killed Friday and two others were injured after a crash in west Harris County that split one of the vehicles in half.
The crash was reported about 2:30 a.m. on State Highway 6 at Loch Katrine Lane.
According to Harris County deputies, it appears a black BMW was speeding southbound on the highway when it was hit by a white Hummer. The impact split the BMW into two.
Deputies said the back-seat passenger of the BMW, identified by a family member as 16-year-old Tristan Sanders, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver and the front-seat passenger of the BMW were taken to a hospital in serious condition, deputies said.
The driver of the Hummer was not seriously injured and has been charged with driving while intoxicated, according to Sean Teare, of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
According to Teare, the driver of the Hummer, Carlos Ayala, will undergo blood tests and will later be booked into the Harris County Jail. Teare said Ayala could face other charges in addition to the DWI.
“The bottom line is alcohol, potentially drugs and speed, all contributed to a 15-year-old young person not being with us anymore and his family having to deal with that I have said it over and over again it has to stop," said Teare.
Ricky Richardson said that his nephew, Tristan Sanders, was a standout athlete in the Dallas area and had hoped to move to Houston.
“He was a pure athlete, greatest kid, no problems, best grades,” said Richardson. “Pray for my family.”