A 21-year-old woman in police custody in a squad car died when a driver slammed into the cruiser near downtown early Wednesday morning.
The two-car crash happened about 3:30 a.m. at 500 Chartres near Texas, according to the Houston Police Department.
Police said the woman was handcuffed in the backseat of the squad car after the officer had taken her into custody for public intoxication. The cruiser, police added, was traveling northbound on Chartres when the driver of a red Chevrolet Cobalt that was traveling eastbound on Texas apparently ran a red light and rammed the squad car.
The prisoner was thrown from the cruiser upon impact. She was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police said the preliminary investigation indicates the prisoner was not properly restrained in a seatbelt in the backseat of the patrol car.
Police said the woman who was driving the Cobalt and her passenger were hurt and taken to a nearby hospital. Details of their injuries were not released, but police said the injuries were non life-threatening. Their conditions were not released.
The officer had minor injuries and was taken to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. She is expected to be fine.
Police said the driver of the Cobalt was believed to have been intoxicated. The driver, police added, told an officer at the scene that she had been at a bar. Investigators said they are awaiting blood tests to determine what charges may be filed against her.
Copyright 2013 - Houston Chronicle
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
