Posts Tagged ‘accident’

Honda Accord sought in fatal hit-and-run on West Fuqua

The driver of a white-colored Honda Accord hit and killed a pedestrian this morning around 2:15am and kept on driving. The victim is a Hispanic male in his 40’s and the accident happened on West Fuqua in southwest Houston. According to a witness the Honda Accord swerved and hit the man, who was apparently standing in the street, but then kept going. The witness said the driver stopped at a stop sign, got out of this car and checked his vehicle for damage. The witness made eye contact with the driver and suggested the driver go back to the accident scene since someone had been struck, however the driver got back in his vehicle and left. The witness said the driver did not appear to be drunk. Police are on the lookout for a white Honda Accord that has damage to the front passenger side, possibly damage to the window also. A female driver attempted to chase the Accord to get a license plate number – police would like to speak with that lady also. Channel 13’s story is here.

Houston personal injury attorneys Smith & Hassler represent the victims of hit-and-run accidents in Houston and throughout Texas, and also represents family members in wrongful death claims.

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.

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.

METRO bus accident on North Freeway may have involved drunk driver

Sunday February 19, 2012: five people were hospitalized after a crash involving a METRO bus on the North Freeeway. According to officials there was an initial collision around noon between a car and a truck; the car spun around and hit the METRO bus head-on. The truck veered off the freeway where it went into the parking lot of Northline Mall and struck several other vehicles. One witness who was in a van struck by the out of control truck, Kasandra Loera, reported seeing beer in the pickup truck. One bus passenger, two people in the car and two others were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries. The driver of the truck is being investigated for possible DWI. Channel 2’s coverage of the METRO bus accident is here. Channel 2’s story identifies the truck involved as a Dodge pickup and the car that spun out and collided with the bus as a Honda Accord. Channel 13’s coverage of the crash is here.