Girlfriend dies trying to stop boyfriend from driving drunk

A 27-year old woman was killed in Spring early Saturday morning when she fell from the hood of her boyfriend's Jeep as she attempted to stop him driving drunk. The woman was found laying in the street in the 22600 block of Spring Crossing Drive around 3:30 a.m. Life Flight rushed her to Memorial Hermann, but she did not survive. Neighbor reported hearing the woman begging Jeremy Stanford not to drive because he had been drinking, however Stanford took off in his Jeep with her clinging to the hood. She fell off sustaining a head injury. Jeremy Stanford has been arrested and charged with felony DWI. What appears to be Mr. Stanford's Facebook page prominently features a late model silver 4-door Jeep. Prosecutors will evaluate whether those charges are increased to intoxication manslaughter. KHOU's story is here.

Photo credit: Facebook

8th grader hit by car at Timberwood Middle School

An 8th grader was struck by a car today as he walked to school.  The auto-pedestrian accident happened around 7:45 a.m. as the vehicle was making a left turn in front of Timberwood Middle School in Humble, Texas. The boy suffered a possible broken leg and some bruises, and he was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital.  The driver remained at the scene. Channel 2's report is here. Hopefully the young man will make a full recovery. No word on whether the driver was cited for the accident.

Several burned in explosion at AmeriGas facility in Conroe

An explosion at the AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange facility in Conroe, Texas injured several people today.  The blast happened around noon at the AmeriGas facility at 10985 FM 1485 in Montgomery County, Texas. Two victims of the explosion were flown to area burn centers via medical helicopter. Montgomery County Fire Marshal's are investigating and the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the propane industry, was also notified. Channel 13 story here. KHOU's updated story here.

Photo credit: ABC Channel 13

Niel Smith charged with intox manslaughter in death of deputy's father

75-year old Neil Smith has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the death of 54-year old Danny Hunt.  On Saturday November 3rd Danny Hunt and his son Chase Hunt, an off-duty Galveston County Deputy Sheriff, were riding their motorcycles on Highway 6 near FM 2004 it Hitchcock, Texas around 1:00 a.m. Investigators say that at some point Chase's baseball cap fell off so the men pulled to the side of the road and chase went to retrieve his hat.  At that point Neil Smith's Ford SUV struck Danny Hunt. Smith continued driving for about a half mile until damage to the SUV forced him to stop.  Danny Hunt was pronounced dead at the scene. Channel 2's story is here. Galveston Daily News story here. This weekend marked the conclusion of the Lone Star Rally in Galveston, a motorcycle rally that drew 500,000 people to Galveston Island. According to initial police reports, 19 people were charged with drunken driving, including Neil Smith.

Neil Smith is charged with
 intoxication manslaughter.

Deputies hit head-on by 16-year old driver possibly under the influence of synthetic marijuana

Two Harris County Deputies and a person they were providing courtesy transportation were hit head on in a car accident last night at Little York and Highway 6. Two patrol vehicles were stopped at a light in a turn lane facing northbound on Highway 6. A full-size Chevy pickup truck heading southbound on Highway 6 crashed into the front of the first patrol vehicle, pushing it backwards into the second patrol unit. Apparently this was a major impact: one of the patrol units was pushed back 28 feet from the point of impact. 

The driver of the pickup truck was a 16-year old male that police believe was driving under the influence of synthetic marijuana. He will be given a mandatory blood draw at the hospital. With him in the vehicle was another person who allegedly asked the 16-year old to drive because the passenger was too intoxicated. Another passenger was a female runaway whose parents came to collect her. The deputy sheriff in the first patrol vehicle hit was transported to hospital with a wrist injury (probably from the airbag) and bruising. ABC Channel 13's story is here, and includes video.

If the 16-year old was unlicensed and/or intoxicated at the time of the crash, the passenger who asked the 16-year old to drive would probably be liable to the injured deputy for what is called negligent entrustment. That is when a person knowingly entrusts their vehicle to a person who is an unlicensed, incompetent or reckless driver, and the negligence of the person entrusted with the vehicle results in injury to a third party. Hopefully the 16-year old is covered by the auto insurance policy on the pickup truck (assuming there is one).

HCSO patrol unit hit head-on last night

The Ford pickup truck that struck the deputy sheriff head-on

Your Car Accident Lawyer in Illinois Keeps On Top of Your Case

No one likes to believe that it is possible to get into a car accident, but there is always a chance whenever you head out onto the roadways. If you have been in an accident, it might be a good idea to contact a car accident lawyer in Illinois. Using a car accident lawyer in Illinois is one of the smartest ways to make sure that you are covering your bases and that you are able to receive compensation to help pay your medical bills. When you are not at fault for the accident, a car accident attorney in Illinois is going to be vital to your financial well-being.

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can take quite a bit out of you physically, emotionally, and financially. You have to make sure that you have someone who can help you deal with the issues that crop up, and your car accident lawyer in Illinois is the best line of defense. Your car accident attorney in Illinois will be able to help you with making sure that the creditors aren’t breathing down your neck while you are trying to sort out your case and receive compensation for your injuries. The car accident lawyer in Illinois is going to work hard to make sure that you get what you deserve from the accident.

Having a car accident attorney in Illinois will make it much easier to deal with the fallout from the accident. Whether you or a family member was in the accident, you want to get in touch with the car accident lawyer in Illinois as soon as you are able after the accident. Never wait longer than you have to in order to speak with an attorney. You can have a free consultation with the car accident attorney in Illinois to learn more about what you need to do next with your case.

Trick or treaters hit by SUV on Sweetwater and Saddle Rock

A boy and a girl out trick or treating for Halloween last night were struck and injured by an SUV as they crossed Saddle Rock Drive near Sweetwater Lane in a north Houston neighborhood. Witnesses say the boy who was struck was thrown up in the air by the impact. Neighbors say the girl was transported to the hospital by ground ambulance and the boy via life flight. Neighbor Cory Samuel, interviewed by Channel 11 News, said he saw the boy go up into the air, then when the boy came down it was like the SUV driver was unable to stop. Channel 2's report indicates the driver's SUV was towed away after the accident: that indicates (but doesn't guarantee) that the driver had no license or no insurance, but maybe she was just too shaken up to drive.

Update: as it turns out the driver of the SUV, 52-year old Katherine Ann Sanford, has been charged with driving while intoxicated. Sanford, pictured below (that's not a costume) hit 11-year old Alfredo Orozco last night as he was out trick or treating, causing him to sustain a broken leg among other injuries. Six-year old Blanca Orozco, also hit by Sanford's SUV, was treated for less serious injuries. Sanford has a previous DWI from 2010, for which she received community service. Channel 11's story is here.

Katherine Ann Sanford was allegedly drunk when she
ran down Alfredo and Blanca Orozo last night.

The Suzuki SUV involved in last night's pedestrian
accident on Sweet Water