HOUSTON—A 14-year-old boy was killed and four other teens were injured early Friday after they crashed into a tree while joyriding in southwest Houston, according to Houston police.
Police said 14-year-old Luis Pineda swiped his big brother’s Honda car keys from the dresser and took another two boys and two girls on a joyride.
Police said one of the teen passengers was 16, two were 14 and the other’s age was not known.
The teens were speeding in the 8900 block of Valley View around 12:30 a.m. when Pineda failed to negotiate a curve, lost control of the Honda and crashed into a tree, causing the car to roll over.
Roman Rojas lives two doors down from the crash site.
"So sad," said Rojas, looking at the wreckage. "Glass, bumpers, door, everything is all there."
One teen, who lived only a few blocks away, called his mom. She arrived to the scene first, called the ambulance, then left the scene and took each of the teen passengers to their homes, according to police.
She then took her son to Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital.
HFD went to check on each of the teen passengers and transported them all to Ben Taub Hospital with minor injuries.
When firefighters arrived, the only teen left was Pineda, who was dead at the scene.
Hours after the accident, KHOU 11 News found Maria Zavala sobbing at the crash site. She is Pineda’s mother.
"He was a good kid," said Zavala. "He was a good kid."
Zavala said she had no idea that her youngest son had stolen his brother’s keys until it was too late.
"He was outside talking with some friends," said Zavala. "By the time I noticed he had taken the key, I was trying to find him."
The family is originally from El Salvador. They plan to fly the 14-year-old’s body home for burial.
It was not clear if any charges would be filed against the mom or the other teens for leaving the crash scene before investigators arrived.
Police were questioning that mother and the four surviving passengers.
