Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

William Thomas Johnson, 48, of Houston has been charged with intoxication manslaughter for his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday that claimed the life of a 43-year old man driving a Volkswagen Jetta (see our previous blog post on the crash). Police say Johnson was drunk when he ran a red light crashing into the Jetta and striking other vehicles also. The pickup initially struck the passenger side of the blue Volkswagen Jetta, then struck three other vehicles that were heading westbound on Tidwell.

The crash happened at the intersection of the Eastex Freeway service road and Tidwell. Johnson reportedly was traveling at considerable speed when he entered the intersection: one witness estimated Johnson’s speed to be between 60 and 80 MPH. Video footage on Channel 11’s web site shows a newer model silver-colored pickup truck truck flipped over onto its passenger side, though it is not clear if that flipped truck is Johnson’s or one of the motorists he struck.

The driver of this Volkswagen Jetta was killed in the collision

For more than 23-years Smith & Hassler has represented the victims of intoxicated driving. If you have suffered due to a drunk driver’s selfish choices we want to help.

A driver was injured in a one car accident on Tuesday April 10 when she crashed through the wall of the Huntington Learning Center in Pearland. The accident happened around 4:50pm; instructors and students scattered when the gray-colored Chevrolet car plowed through the corner of the building.The driver of the car was found unconscious but breathing and was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital. It was not clear what caused the driver to lose control. Channel 11’s story is here.

On April 5th we posted to this blog regarding a fatal drunk driving collision on the Tomball Parkway. Today Channel 11 News reports on their web site that the bond has been reduced for Amanda Lynn Woods, the driver charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the crash. 22-year old Amanda Woods, who lists her employer on what appears to be her Facebook page, as Barney’s Billiard Saloon in Humble, Texas, has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter for the death of April Herrington, the driver of a Kia car that was struck by Woods’ pickup truck when Woods ran a red light.  Woods has also been charged with two counts of intoxication assault for injuring the two occupants of a Toyota Celica she collided with. Woods remains under a $30,000 bond for the intoxication manslaughter charge, but bond was reduced on the two assault charges from $30,000 to $15,000.

Harris County deputy Sheriffs say Woods was drunk when she ran a red light at the Tomball Parkway and Boudreaux intersection. Reportedly Woods told officers that she worked at a billiards hall in Humble and admitted to having a few drinks the night of the wreck. Woods failed a sobriety test performed by the deputies: prosecutors say Woods was two and a half time over the legal limit for intoxication. The Channel 11 story did not indicate what family members were left behind to mourn the loss of April Herrington in the wake of this tragedy, and no mention was made of how the occupants of the Toyota Celica are doing.

22-year old Amanda Lynn Woods has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the drunk driving death of April Herrington

April Herrington's Kia car, struck by Amanda Woods' pickup truck

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that a three car accident on the Tomball Parkway (Texas 249) has left one person dead. The wreck happened at around 4:10am in the northbound lanes of the parkway according to Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Officials temporarily shut down all three northbound lanes of Tomball Parkway as emergency workers cleared the scene.

According to an article on Channel 13’s web site, investigators spoke to an accident witness who said a female driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck was speeding when she ran a red light before entering the intersection of Highway 249 and Boudreaux. The pickup truck driver then hit two cars, one heading east and the other heading west. The lone driver of a gold-colored Kia 4-door car was killed in the accident. Also involved in the crash was a Toyota Celica with two occupants, both injured: the driver of the Celica was listed as being in critical condition. The woman driving the pickup truck admitted that she had been drinking at a bar where she works.

The driver of this Kia sedan was killed when the Chevrolet pickup ran a red light. The pickup driver had been drinking.

Smith & Hassler’s highly experienced personal injury attorneys aggressively represent clients in Houston and throughout Texas who have been injured by drunk drivers. If you or a family member have been the victim of a drunk driving accident, contact Smith & Hassler to speak to an attorney right away.

Channel 2 is reporting that, per investigators, Ashli Nicol Heil‘s blood test revealed that she was three times the legal limit for intoxication at the time her Chevrolet Suburban left the roadway in Cut and Shoot earlier this week, striking a tree and killing Ms. Heil’s 8-month old daughter, baby Whilow Heil. Ashli Heil’s Facebook page indicates that she is from Kingwood, Texas and lives in Humble, Texas. The crash happened on FM 1484 on Monday. Investigators, whose names were not included in the Channel 2 article, said Ashli Heil’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was .28, significantly above Texas’ legal limit for intoxication of .08.  Investigators also said data downloaded from the Suburban’s on board computer showed the vehicle was speeding at 68 MPH at the time of the wreck. Harris County Clerk records indicate Ashli Heil has had two prior run-ins with the law: a 2004 criminal mischief arrest followed by a guilty plea and two days in jail, then a 2007 arrest for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, for which she got four years probation that ended in August. Baby Whilow was in a car seat at the time of the crash, but the impact was very severe and was to the rear passenger door where Whilow’s car seat was located.

One of Ashli’s favorite quotes on her Facebook page is “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” This accident is a terrible tragedy. Whilow’s life has been lost and of course, Ashli Heil’s life is forever changed.

Ashli Nicol Heil

8 month old Whilow Heil died 04/02/2012 in a single vehicle crash

Montgomery County officials are investigating the cause of a single vehicle crash that has tragically taken the life of eight month old Whilow Heil. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has said that Whilow died when a Chevrolet Suburban, driven by Whilow’s mother Ashli Heil, left the roadway Monday night in Cut and Shoot and struck a tree. Accident witness Becky Paschel said she saw the Suburban approaching her from the opposite direction on FM 1484. Paschel describes the Suburban as “not making the curve” and traveling as if it were out of control. Deputies think the crash happened at around 7:00pm at 18125 FM 1484. According to investigators Ashli Heil was not wearing a seat belt. EMTs who arrived at the scene said they could smell alcohol on Ashli’s breath, which is being investigated as a possible cause in the crash. Investigators believe speed and the wet road surface may also have been factors in the accident. Ashli Heil is at Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition. Channel 2 News’ story is here. Channel 11’s story is here.

Eight month old Willow Heil died in this single vehicle accident on FM 1484 in Cut and Shoot

A collision last night on Scott Street has left two HPD officers injured.  The officers were responding to a burglary call at around 9:30pm and were driving with emergency lights and sirens in operation. The police car was heading northbound on Scott Street when a man in a pickup truck pulled in front of them and they were unable to avoid the collision. The police car struck a tree after the initial crash with the truck.  The officers were taken to Memorial Hermann hospital for treatment.

If you, a friend or a family member have been injured in a car accident, Smith & Hassler’s experienced personal injury attorneys are available to give you a free consultation either in-person or by phone.  Sometimes people injured in car accident wait before consulting an attorney. They have good intentions: not wanting to seem “sue happy,” waiting to see if their injuries will get better or because an insurance adjuster is discouraging them from seeking legal advice (that happens).  It is better to know your rights early in the process and have an experienced Houston personal injury attorney explain the steps involved in car accident injury claim and what you can do NOW to increase the chances of a good outcome.