Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

25-year old James Dean “Jimmy” Burnett of Goliad, Texas died Monday May 6th when a pipe fell on him at a construction job site in Karnes County, Texas. The San-Antonio Express News reports that the accident happened at a construction site operated by BHP Billitron Petroleum. Jimmy worked for an oilfield services company called Jet Maintenance, Inc. based out of Victoria, Texas. Services are pending with Grace Funeral Home in Goliad. BHP is one of the largest operators in the Eagle Ford, with more than 330,000 acres in the region. BHP Billitron Petroleum is the Houston-based oil and gas division of the Australian mining company that purchased Petrohawk Energy Corp. in 2011. According to OSHA, there have been 11 worker deaths since 2009 due to work site accidents at the Eagle Ford.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office has identified Michael Bisotooni as the driver killed in an intersection accident last night in Houston, and a driver who ran a red light is being blamed. HCSO investigators told Channel 13 News that a blue Chevrolet pickup was speeding northbound in the 1000 block of Mason and ran a red light at the Interstate 10 feeder road just after 9:00 p.m. The Chevy smashed into a westbound Toyota Tacoma, driven by Michael Bisotooni. The Toyota then spun out and hit a Pontiac waiting at the red light on Mason. Deputies say the 21-year old male driving the Chevy pickup admitted to “having a few beers” but he passed a field sobriety test. Michael Bisotooni appears to be affiliated with local business Four Seasons Valet Parking LLC and was in his early 50’s.

Photo credit: Channel 13 News Houston

Police suspect the driver of a GMC Envoy was drunk when he (allegedly) ran a red light and caused a fatal collision in southeast Houston last night.  The three car accident happened at the intersection of Old Galveston Road and Edgebrook.  Police say the man was driving the GMC Envoy on Old Galveston Road when he crashed into a white-colored Honda Civic that was in the intersection; the Civic then collided with an Isuzu Trooper SUV.  From Channel 13’s picture of the crash scene it appears the Civic sustained major damage, primarily to the driver’s side front corner.  Tragically a female passenger in the Civic died in the accident.  When officers came to the scene they found the driver of the GMC Envoy hiding in bushes: he was taken to the hospital in serious condition. It is expected the man will be charged with driving while intoxicated and possibly intoxication manslaughter. A story posted this morning to Channel 11 news’ web site states that the driver of the Honda Civic is also expected of driving drunk, and he will be charged with DWI too.

Photo credit: Channel 13 News Houston

Photo credit: KHOU Channel 11 News

35-year old Jennifer Lopez Harden from Spring, Texas has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with a deadly motorcycle accident Sunday morning. Lopez Harden was taken into custody after the 3:00 a.m. crash on Birnham Wood Boulevard near Riley Fuzzel Road in Spring. She is accused of driving drunk when she swerved into a center lane, crashing head on into a motorcycle driven by 42-year old John McSwain, also of Spring. Mr. McSwain was reportedly thrown 100 feet in the impact, and he died at the scene. Harden and her passenger were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

A person named Jennifer Lopez Harden with a date of birth of May 8, 1978 was arrested just a few months ago by Houston Police Department on 12/18/2012 and charged with public intoxication, according to this web site.

Photo credit: Houston Chronicle

Photo credit: Houston Chronicle

A car accident on Highway 290 at Antoine around 3:30 a.m. involved one fatality. Two vehicles were involved, a dark-colored sedan and a mid-size SUV that appears to be a Toyota Forerunner. Channel 13’s report from the scene indicated someone was ejected from one vehicle, though which vehicle wasn’t clear. From the damage to the vehicles it appears the car rear ended the SUV causing the Toyota to spin out, however police are still investigating. All westbound lanes of Highway 290 were closed to traffic as police worked the accident scene.

Photo credit: Houston Chronicle

One killed in car accident at US290 and Antoine

Harris County Deputies arrested a man this morning following a crash on Highway 6 near Westpark around 1:00 a.m. that killed one person. Investigators believe the driver of a Ford Expedition SUV rear-ended a car, then lost control, swerved into oncoming traffic and hit a white-colored Chevrolet van nearly head-on. The driver of the van was killed. Deputies believe the driver of the Expedition was driving drunk when he caused the accident: he will likely face a charge of intoxication manslaughter.

Photo credit: Channel 13 News

A motorcyclist was killed in a four vehicle collision that happened yesterday afternoon on the northbound West Sam Houston Tollway at Briar Forest Drive. Precinct 5 deputies say that around 5:20 p.m. a motorcycle rider slowed for traffic ahead when he was rear-ended by an SUV. The motorcyclist was thrown from his bike: the bike traveled forward and hit another vehicle while the SUV crashed into another car. The victim, who appeared to be a middle aged man, died at the scene. Deputies say charges against the SUV driver are possible, but there is no indication alcohol impairment was the cause of the accident. Channel 13’s article states the motorcycle rider was struck from behind by a Honda Goldwing, though that is almost certainly an error since the Honda Goldwing is a type of motorcycle. The victim was probably riding a Honda Goldwing.