Archive for January 14th, 2011

Suspected drunk driver rear-ends Houston police cruiser

Channel 13 eyewitness news is reporting that a suspected drunk driver rear-ended a Houston Police Department cruiser on the East Loop last night. Police say the officer was standing outside his cruiser at the time of the collision while he worked to clear an accident scene. The driver of a pickup truck then slammed into the back of the patrol car: the pickup truck driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. A picture of the wrecked police cruiser is below:

You have to wonder how intoxicated a person has to be to slam into the back of a stationary police car with emergency lights flashing. A very similar incident occurred in December 2008 when an intoxicated driver of a tow truck rear-ended a Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy working an extra job providing security to a construction road crew working on the US-290 service road. Smith & Hassler represented the deputy who sustained a low back injury in the collision. After a lawsuit was filed against the intoxicated driver and the towing company, the case settled for a confidential amount.  If you have been injured due to the selfishness and gross negligence of a drunk driver, consider calling Smith & Hassler right away: insurance companies realize injury accidents involving drunk drivers have a higher value and try to settle these claims quickly, and for less than the true value of the claim.

Houston 18-wheeler wrecks kills woman and injures 2 children

An 18-wheeler collision on Monday January 10th has resulted in the death of a female driver and injury to boys aged 4 and 12 riding in her Jeep. According to police, the driver of the Jeep pulled over to the right shoulder of the inbound lanes of the Northwest Freeway in Houston near west 43rd street at around 3:50am on Saturday. The 18-wheeler had been traveling behind the Jeep: according to the 18-wheeler driver, the Jeep suddenly pulled to the left causing the collision. The 35-year old driver of the Jeep was taken to Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital where she died. The boys were taken to Texas Children’s Hospital with the 12-year old in critical condition. A front seat passenger in the Jeep was treated for minor injuries and released. Police indicate alcohol was not a factor.