HOUSTON — A Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper was injured after crashing into the underside of an 18-wheeler while responding to a high-speed chase Tuesday night in the Katy area, according to DPS.
This crash happened at Mason Road and Merchants Way near the Katy Freeway.
DPS said the trooper was flown by Life Flight to the hospital and at last check was responsive and talking. A second trooper was also injured when a driver ran over their foot during the incident.
DPS said this all started when troopers tried to pull over a woman, who had four children, some dressed in Halloween costumes in a car with her along with another adult passenger on the Grand Parkway near Peek Road just south of the Katy Freeway at 9:30 p.m.
The woman tried to get away to a home in the Katy area when she tried to ram another DPS Trooper’s vehicle. DPS said that is when another trooper was injured when the woman ran over the trooper’s foot.
DPS said it took several PIT maneuvers to finally stop that driver and take her into custody at Merchants Way and Mason Road.
The woman driver is now facing several felony charges. It also has not been released why the woman was being pulled over when the initial traffic stop happened.
Separately, another trooper was responding to the incident and was going eastbound on Merchants Way when an 18-wheeler was driving into the intersection at Mason Road. That is when the trooper’s vehicle hit the side of the big rig.
A tow truck driver responding to the initial chase crash was also at the intersection and caught the trooper’s crash into the semi on dash cam video.
GRAPHIC WARNING: The video below is dashcam video of the crash involving the DPS Trooper and the 18-wheeler.
Frankie Elayyan, the owner of Rev Wrecker and Towing, immediately got out of his vehicle and checked on the trooper who was responsive.
“I ran back to my truck because there was no way to get in, the only way out was through the front windshield, so I grabbed a crowbar,” Elayyan said.
Elayyan called for help from the other tow truck drivers in the area and eventually the trooper was taken out of the vehicle and then flown to a hospital via Life Flight. DPS said the trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition.
“I’m glad that both troopers are still among the living by the grace of the good Lord, this one over here with us in the intersection,” Sgt. Richard Standifar, DPS public information officer, said. “There’s severe damage to the vehicle in the passenger compartment. So I’m very thankful, I heard him talking when he was in the ambulance, I’m just thankful.”
We learned Wednesday afternoon that both troopers have been released from the hospital and are recovering at home.
The tow truck drivers who responded also tended to the children who were in the suspect vehicle. The children did not sustain life-threatening injuries.
“It’s one of the craziest pursuits I think we had in a few years,” Isaiah Cooksey, one of the tow truck drivers, said. He is also a volunteer firefighter.
The driver said while the incident was intense, they were relieved they had the experience and tools necessary to help those involved.
“It makes me feel better that we were prepared and we were able to help and that we are not just out here to tow cars but we are actually out here to help,” Elayyan said.