Brother and Sister Killed by Drunk Driver in Houston

An accident involving five cars at a toll booth last week resulted in the death of a brother and sister.

On Saturday night, just after 11:30 p.m., a Pontiac Grand Am was waiting a westbound lane to pay the toll on the North Sam Houston Tollway near the Veterans Memorial Drive. The Grand Am was suddenly rear-ended by a Chevy Silverado. The impact of the collision forced the Grand Am into the car in front of it, causing a chain reaction that affected a total of five vehicles at the toll booth.

Two of the occupants of the Grand Am, twenty-something siblings, were killed in the car crash. Another occupant of the vehicle was transported to Memorial Hermann hospital in critical condition. The driver of the Silverado truck was also taken to the hospital.

According to Harris County police, a blood alcohol content (BAC) test revealed that the 55-year-old pickup truck driver was two times over the legal limit of 0.08. Law enforcement authorities believe that drunk driver of the Silverado was driving at a high rate of speed and failed to slow at all when he hit the back of the Grand Am.

The 55 year old has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter.

Source: Houston Chronicle, “2 killed in five-car tollway accident,” 10/24/11.