A heart-breaking collision unfolded on Saturday, November 11, 2023, when a driver of a black Chryslers 300 sped through a red light and collided into a black SUV that reportedly had the right-of-way. The impact caused multiple people in the SUV to be ejected, and the Chrysler was reported to have left the roadway and struck a pedestrian. According to the initial report by Houston Police Department, four (4) “young people” were pronounced dead at the scene, while two (2) other “young people” were reported to have died later in the hospital. Two others remain in the hospital, one of which is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Three of the victims were later identified as former University of Houston football players: D.J. Hayden, Zach McMillian, and Ralph Oragwu. A fourth former UH football player, Jeffrey Lewis, was confirmed as a survivor of the accident.
The deadly incident took place around 2 a.m. after the black-colored Chrysler appeared to be traveling “very fast” through a red light on Fannin Street and collided into a black SUV that had a green light on Pierce Street, in Houston, Texas.
On Saturday, University of Houston alma matter mourned the football players’ death: “The entire University of Houston community is heartbroken over the tragic passing of former Football student-athletes D.J. Hayden, Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu earlier today, and our thoughts and prayers remain with Jeffery Lewis in his recovery ahead,” the school’s athletics department said in a statement. “While their combined talents provided Houston Football some of its most unforgettable moments, their unique legacies will best be remembered for the way they loved their teammates, supported their communities and defied the odds.”
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) Houston has historically ranked # 1 in fatal traffic collisions out of the five largest metroplexes in Texas. In 2019, the city pledged to progress in reducing the number of fatal crashes through a myriad of ways, including rethinking and redesigning city streets to reduce the chances that a crash would turn deadly.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in motor vehicle collision, contact an experienced attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner to begin investigating your claim immediately. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz, & Stogner is the longest-standing personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to obtain just compensation for our clients. For more information, call us today at 713-222-7211 or 1-800-870-9584, or visit our website at www.abrahamwatkins.com.