Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

A major car accident claimed one life last night. The crash happened around 1:30 am near the exit for Ella Boulevard on the 610 North Loop West, eastbound lanes. Police are saying a gray colored Infinity sedan stalled in the middle of the freeway with no light on and the driver of an approaching black Dodge Charger didn’t see the vehicle and crashed into the rear of the Infinity. The impact was apparently so severe the Infinity spun around 180 degrees and was hit again by the Charger, front bumper to front bumper. Tragically the driver of the Infinity died at the scene and a female passenger was transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition. According to one media report, the driver of the Dodge Charger was not injured. Channel 2’s report is here. Channel 13’s report is here.

Yesterday afternoon a man and woman were killed in a helicopter crash in northeast Harris County very close to Highway 90. Christopher Yeager of Houston, 40, and his passenger Joyce Ann Ates of Midwest City, Okalahoma, 60, were in the R-22 Robinson helicopter at around 3:30 p.m. when witnesses say the helicopter went into a tailspin and then crashed to the ground. [Note that in Channel 11’s story the male victim is identified as John Yeager]. The helicopter exploded shortly after impact. Some brave and quick-thinking bystanders did what they could to try and rescue Christopher and Joyce, including using fire extinguishers that were rushed to the site by employees of a nearby pipe yard belonging to Oilfield Pipeline Company. The crash site was secured by the DPS and the NTSB will dispatch investigators to try and determine the cause of the crash. Tom Latson of the NTSB told reporters that a complete investigation of the wreckage will be done, including probably removing the wreckage of the R-22 to a location near Dallas. Latson said the helicopter involved is operated by Helicopter Services Incorporated based in Spring, Texas at Hooks Airport and was possibly out on a photography flight. Channel 13’s report indicates they contacted Helicopter Services about the incident, but a woman who worked there hung up on them.

Channel 11’s story is here. Channel 2’s story is here. Channel 13’s story is here. Houston Chronicle story.

At around 1:00 a.m. this morning a suspected drunk driver wrecked his car, killing a female pedestrian. The 29-year old driver of the silver-colored sedan was heading south on Scott Street when he struck the curb and went into the grassy median, striking the pedestrian. The 52-year old woman was dragged a short a distance by the car and died at the scene. The driver was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. If the driver is determined to be intoxicated he will likely be charged with intoxication manslaughter. According to Channel 11’s report, there were beer cans in the vehicle and the driver of the car told police that woman was “in his way.”

26-year old sanitation worker Ezequiel Martinez was killed Friday in an on-the-job accident when he was riding on the back of an Ameriwaste sanitation truck and it rolled into a ditch. Martinez was collecting curb side trash and riding on the back of the truck as it traveled north on Avenue T in Santa Fe, Texas. The truck left the roadway and turned over in a ditch, pinning Martinez, according to DPS Trooper Colin Kolupski. KHOU Channel 11’s story is here.

A 12-year old boy was rushed to hospital this past Monday morning when a neighbor’s pit bull dog escaped and bit him on the arm. According to Channel 11’s report, the boy was walking to school in the 7900 block of Bauman Road when the attack happened. Investigating officers said it appeared the dog has pushed a cinder block to the side and escaped through a gap in the home’s fence. One boy said this was not the first time the dog had attacked and recounted another incident when the dog started to bite and rip the pants of kids walking past the home. The dog’s owner Raydene Ambriz however claims the dog is frequently provoked by kids who will kick at the fence or throw stones at the dog. Fortunately the boy’s injuries were not life threatening and he was taken to LBJ Hospital for treatment. The pit bull will be quarantined by BARC for 10-days and checked for rabies, a standard procedure when a person is bitten.

To learn more about Texas law on dog bites and when a dog’s owner may be liable for bite victim’s injuries, visit Houston personal injury attorney law firm Smith & Hassler’s web page on dog bite injuries.

Shannon Elliott (26) and her 3-year old son were walking by the Urban Lofts apartments at 2208 Postoffice Street in Galveston Saturday night when they were struck by falling stucco that detached from the bottom of a third floor balcony. Shannon suffered serious head and neck injuries and remains in critical condition at UTMB. Shannon’s 3-year old son suffered bruising to his face and head, and his father collected him from hospital Sunday morning.

The Urban Lofts building is owned by Rusty Walla who had a work crew remove the stucco from the building exterior. According to a Galveston Daily News article published today, Walla bought and remodeled the building in 2006 and added the decorative stucco to the exterior in 2008 after Hurricane Ike. Engineers called to the scene of the accident Sunday morning said the building and the balconies were structurally sound: Walla said he added the stucco to resemble the building’s original 1920’s architecture.

If you have been injured by a dangerous condition on private property, contact Houston personal injury attorneys Smith & Hassler: premises liability law poses its own unique set of challenges, so it is vital you understand what Texas law requires you to prove in order to receive compensation.

Police say a man in his 20’s was struck and killed by a small pickup truck while trying to cross a poorly lit area of FM 1960 around 10:15 p.m. last night. The pedestrian accident happened near FM 1960 and Highway 249. A few lanes were closed as Houston Police Department investigated the accident.

Police believe speed and possibly alcohol may be the causes of a deadly car accident on North Main Street near Archer in Baytown yesterday. Police say that around 5:00 a.m. a 22-year old male was driving at excessive speed on North Main in a black-colored Honda Civic when he drove the car off the road and into a ditch, launching the car airborne and into a power pole before the Civic came to rest on its roof. Investigators say the driver was killed in the accident. Two women aged 21 and 22 were passengers in the car: they were in serious condition and were taken by life flight helicopter to hospital. Channel 2’s story did not include the names of the people involved, and mentions that police think alcohol may have been involved.

Around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday a man in a wheelchair was hit and dragged by a pickup truck as he crossed South Post Oak near West Orem in southwest Houston. Witness Jacqueline Pineda told Channel 13 she shouted for the pickup driver to stop when she saw the man hit. The man in the wheelchair was dragged by the truck for a few blocks before a passerby pulled in front of the truck to stop it, at which time witnesses say the man tumbled out from underneath the truck. The victim was transported to the hospital with severe road rash, and the driver was detained by police who said he would be charged with failure to stop and render aid (at least). The driver of the truck speaking to Channel 13 from inside a police car said he simply didn’t see the man crossing the street. Neighbor say he crosses there all the time in his wheelchair. Channel 13’s coverage is here.

Smith & Hassler has been helping clients injured in pedestrian accidents for the past 23-years. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident and would like a free consultation with an experienced Houston personal injury attorney, visit www.smithandhassler.com or call 713 739 1250.