Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

A young boy was tragically killed and his sister seriously injured when an 18-wheeler trucker distracted by something in his cab failed to slow down and struck the back of a family’s vehicle. The crash happened early evening, Friday April 19th on Highway 290 near Mason Road. Channel 2’s story quotes Texas DPS investigators as saying the trucker was looking down at his cell phone at the time of the collision. By the time the driver looked up he had already rear-ended a silver-colored Kia Optima sedan, driven by the boy’s 40-year old mother. Also in the car were the boy, believed to be around 9-years old, and his younger sister. The impact to the Kia was so severe the back bumper of the Kia was pushed forward to the back of the car’s front seat. The Kia was pushed forward, striking a Ford F150 pickup, which then hit a fourth vehicle, a Toyota Camry. The occupants of the other vehicles were injured and transported to hospital.

What a terrible, avoidable tragedy. This family has been forever changed due to something totally preventable: distracted driving.

Driver of the 18-wheeler

A life flight helicopter transported the mother and daughter from the Kia to Memorial Hermann Hospital; the mother is expected to survive, the daughter was taken into surgery for a skull fracture. The boy in the Kia died at the scene.

Officials inspect the silver Kia Optima

KHOU’s coverage of the accident is here.

DPS Trooper Richard Standifer is interviewed

ABC Channel 13 News’ coverage of the accident is here.

Scene of last nigh's fatal crash on Highway 290

The Houston Chronicle’s coverage is here.

The F150 pickup involved in the accident

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