Archive for March, 2012

Jonathan Brett Leonard sought in hit-and-run death of Belinda Khan

Baytown Police are seeking the public’s help in locating 36-year old Jonathan Brett Leonard in connection with the hit-and-run death of 44-year old bicyclist Belinda Khan. Ms. Khan was fatally struck while riding her bicycle in the 3100 block of Dexter Drive early Saturday March 10th. According to officials, a piece of a pickup truck grille was found near Ms. Khan’s body.
Diligent police investigators were able to match the piece of broken grille to a pickup truck found at the Cypress Bend Apartments which were a few blocks away, then traced the pickup to Jonathan Brett Leonard. Detective say Leonard told them that he, his wife and his wife’s girlfriend had been drinking at a Baytown bar that night, then left the bar with the intention of returning to the apartment to have sex. The woman who was with Leonard and his wife has told police she was so intoxicated she may have passed out in the truck on the way to the apartment.
Convenience store surveillance footage puts Leonard behind the wheel of the pickup a matter of minutes before Belinda Khan was hit. Jonathan Brett Leonard has been charged with failure to stop and render aid, which is a third degree felony. Police haven’t arrested him yet because they cannot find him. Anyone with information on Leonard’s whereabouts can contact Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371. Channel 2’s story is here.
Since 1989 families have trusted the experience of Smith & Hassler’s personal injury trial attorneys in the handling of claims associated with the wrongful death of a loved one. Al Hassler is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and personally handled a lawsuit against a trucking company for the wrongful death of his own sister in a trucking accident.

Deputies say speed to blame for fatal motorcycle accident on FM 1485

A motorcyclist was killed last night and the driver of a car was injured after a crash on FM 1485. Deputies say the motorcycle was traveling too fast on a curve on FM 1485 and traveled into oncoming traffic. The motorcycle struck a car, killing the motorcyclist instantly. A lady driving the car was trapped inside her vehicle and had to be extracted by emergency services who then took her to the hospital where her condition was listed as stable. Channel 13’s story is here.

Smith & Hassler’s experienced personal injury attorneys represent victims of motor vehicle accidents in Houston and throughout Texas.

Labay Middle School student Lauren Hannes victim of automobile accident

11-year old Harris County middle school Lauren Hannes was tragically killed in an automobile accident Friday when a vehicle struck the parked car Lauren was sitting in with her mother. A 2009 GMC Yukon SUV was traveling northbound on a driveway across a grassy field at around 3:12 pm when the Yukon turned into the eastbound lane of Willow River near Labay Middle School in Cy-Fair ISD. The Yukon crashed into the right side of a parked 2004 Honda Pilot SUV: Lauren Hannes was the front seat passenger in the Honda Pilot.

In total four vehicles were involved in the crash: after the initial crash of the Yukon into the Honda Pilot, the Pilot was forced into a Ford Expedition which was stopped in the westbound lane. The Expedition then was pushed into a parked and unoccupied Honda Accord. Lauren was taken to an area hospital where she died several hours later.

Lauren was an honor roll student who had been involved in dance for the past five years and she was a sixth grader at Labay Middle School. Lauren’s parents Rodney and Carol Hannes remember their daughter as a good Christian who was strong in her faith. Lauren is survived by her parents and an older sister and two big brothers. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers be made to Crossbridge Christian Church youth group (Lauren was a member). Crossbridge accepts donations online, which can be made here.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash and their official press release is here. The Houston Chronicle’s coverage of this tragic accident is available here. Our hearts and prayers go out to Lauren’s family and friends.

11-year old Lauren Hannes, tragically killed in an automobile accident Friday when a vehicle struck Lauren's mother's parked SUV

Minivan hits motorcycle on Highway 99 in Katy near Mason Road

A man riding a Yamaha motorcycle was seriously injured last night in an accident on Highway 99 near Mason Road in the Katy area at around 9:00pm. The accident happened when a minivan failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and struck the motorcycle. The motorcyclist, identified as a 29-year old man, slid along the road and crashed into a median. He was taken via life flight helicopter and listed as in serious but stable condition. Channel 13 News’ story is here.

Smith & Hassler has helped hundreds of injured motorcyclists recover their damages from motorcycle accidents. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident and you are not sure of your legal rights or what the at-fault driver’s insurance company should compensate you for, contact Smith & Hassler and speak directly to an experienced personal injury attorney.

Shawn Jarmail Brown charged with intoxication manslaughter in death of motorcyclist

A motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon when he stopped to change a tire on Highway 288 near Orem. The collision happened around 1:00pm when the victim was out on a motorcycle ride with his son.  Investigators say 36-year old Shawn Jarmail Brown hit the motorcyclist who died at the scene. Brown was arrested and charged with intoxication assault. The name of the 42-year old victim has not yet been released. Shawn Jarmail Brown has previously faced criminal charges in Harris County, including theft, manufacture and delivery of controlled substance and unlicensed possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. This accident is a terrible and avoidable tragedy, our hearts go out to the friends and family of the victim.

Shawn Jarmail Brown has been charged with intoxication assault - he struck a motorcyclist stopped on Highway 288

Channel 2’s coverage of the fatal crash can be read here. Channel 11’s story regarding Shawn Jermail Brown’s arrest is available here.

Child ejected in possible DWI accident on I-45 in Conroe

A serious auto accident on Interstate 45 in Conroe yesterday caused a child to be ejected. The accident happened just before 6:00pm on the section of I-45 between Wilson Road and Texas 105. Conroe Police Department say that a Dodge Dakota pickup truck was pulling a bass boat heading southbound on I-45. The trailer started jumping, possibly because of a tire failure, and the driver lost control. The pickup truck struck a Ford Explorer SUV traveling next to it, slicing the Explorer‘s tire, flipping it over. There were two adults and a child in the Explorer: according to investigators the child was not restrained in a child seat and was ejected when the Explorer came to rest upside down. The child landed more than 80 feet away and suffered fractured ribs and a head injury and was life-flighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital – The Woodlands. The driver of the pickup truck was arrested on suspicion of Driving While Intoxicated and could face a charge of intoxication assault due to the serious injuries caused. The accident remains under investigation. Channel 13’s report can be read here and refers to the injured child as a toddler and as being female. Channel 2 News’ coverage of the accident is here, and describes the child as being a 7-year old boy.

A child was ejected and thrown more than 80 feet when this Explorer was hit by a drunk driver on Interstate 45

Smith & Hassler’s experienced personal injury attorneys aggressively pursue settlements for those injured and victimized by drunk drivers. If you have been involved in a crash with an intoxicated driver, contact Smith & Hassler right away.

Garrett Higginson rescues woman from burning truck after North Freeway crash

Garrett Higginson and another Good Samaritan are being hailed as heroes after rescuing an unconscious woman from a burning pickup truck after a serious crash on the North Freeway last night. Garrett was driving on the North Freeway at around 9:15pm near the Hardy Toll Road when a white-colored pickup truck slammed into the back of another truck. The truck that was hit from behind then flipped over three times, slid along for about 20 feet and came to rest against a concrete median. When Mr. Higginson saw smoke around the truck and no movement inside, he acted fast, pulling free an unconscious woman on the front passenger seat. Once the woman had been pulled free the truck quickly became engulfed in flames. The woman was transported to the hospital. Channel 11’s story regarding the daring rescue is here. Hats off to Garrett for his selfless actions.

18-month old Aliah Melgar struck by reversing car at Spring Forest Apartments

At around 5:40pm on Wednesday February 29, 2012 a woman accidentally backed her car over 18-month old Aliah Melgar at Spring Forest Apartment complex in Houston. The apartment complex is located at Bissonet and Rampart. Investigators determined the woman driving the car was on her way to work when she hit Aliah: the driver thought she had hit a cat at first but on realizing it was a child she got her husband and they called 911 to request an ambulance. Aliah was first taken to Southwest Memorial and from there was life flighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Houston personal injury attorneys Smith & Hassler have been helping clients in Houston and throughout Texas resolve their pedestrian accident injury cases since 1989. Call (713) 739 1250 or 1 (800) WIN-WIN1 for a free consultation, or submit your case online.