Theodore Hargrove charged in drugged-driving accident

Theodore Hargrove, 33, has been identified as the driver charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in the deaths of Richey Quinton and Meagen Jones.  Richey and Meagen were waiting to turn from the parking lot of a Shell gas station at Kirby Drive and the 59 feeder early Monday morning when Hargrove, driving a black Chevy Impala, sped through a red light, entered the parking lot and smashed into the driver's side of Richey's car, also a Chevy Impala. Meagen and Richey died at the accident scene. According to a report on Channel 13's web site, Hargrove already had a court date two weeks from now for another crime he is accused of having committed: allegedly running from a METRO police officer in January. Hargrove's blood test revealed he was under the influence of Phencyclidine, otherwise known as PCP, a powerful hallucinogen. Hargrove has an extensive criminal history that started with a robbery charge at age 18, including drug charges, evading arrest with a motor vehicle and driving on a suspended license.

Intoxication Manslaughter, codified under section 49.08 of the Texas Penal Code, is defined as follows: (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) operates a motor vehicle in a public place, operates an aircraft, a water craft, or an amusement ride, or assembles a mobile amusement ride; and (2) is intoxicated and by reason of that intoxication causes the death of another by mistake or accident. Unless the offense is enhanced, for example by a previous conviction for driving while intoxicated, intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony. Section 12.33 of the Penal Code states that a person found guilty of a second degree felony may be punished by no less than 2 years and no more than 20 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Houstonians may remember the drunk driving death of HPD Officer Kevin Will, killed by drunk driver Johoan Rodriguez whose speeding Volkswagen struck Officer Will at 90 MPH as Will was standing on the North 610 Loop working an accident scene. On June 8, 2012 a Harris County jury sentenced Rodriguez to 55 years prison time (the possible maximum was 99-years), of which he will have to serve at least half before he is eligible for parole. Rodriguez' sentence was enhanced to a first degree felony because he killed a police officer. 

Richey Quinton

Meagen Jones

Theodore Hargrove

Driver high on PCP kills two in accident at Kirby Drive Shell station

Early this morning a man and woman were killed in an accident shortly after making some purchases at a Shell gas station on Kirby Drive near the Southwest Freeway, and police believe the driver responsible was high on Phencyclidine (PCP) at the time. The man and woman were in a blue-colored Chevrolet Impala and were stopped waiting to leave the gas station parking lot to turn right on the service road when the driver's side of their vehicle was hit by the suspect traveling at a high rate of speed. The suspect's vehicle appears to be an Impala also, only black. The victims were killed instantly. Police say the driver who caused the accident seemed to have little comprehension of what happened: he was taken to Ben Taub to be checked out and will face two counts of intoxication manslaughter. Channel 2 coverage. Channel 13 coverage. Channel 11 coverage.

Update: the male victim of this crash is Richey Quinton. An outpouring of grief and fond memories can be read on Richey's Facebook page. Richey graduated George Bush High School in Richmond, Texas in 2006.  The suspect arrested and charged with the death of Richey and his passenger is 33-year old Theodore Adolphus Hargrove of Houston. 

The victims were waiting to leave this Shell gas station at Kirby and 59
when a driver ran a red light, killing them instantly.

The suspect's black colored vehicle and the victims'
blue Chevy Impala. Photo credit: KHOU.

Photo credit: Channel 2 News.