5-year-old killed in Gulf Freeway crash, driver faces manslaughter charges
HOUSTON, TX – A 5-year-old girl died in a crash Thursday evening on the Gulf Freeway near FM 2351 in Houston, reports ABC13.
Police say the driver of the vehicle carrying the girl, 60-year-old Daniel Ruiz, was speeding before the collision. Ruiz then reportedly struck another car in the 16700 block of the freeway.
According to reports, the child was riding in the front passenger seat of Ruiz’s vehicle. Police say she did not have proper safety restraints.
Emergency crews took the girl to a hospital after the wreck. Doctors later pronounced her dead.
There were no reported injuries to Ruiz or the occupants of the other vehicle.
Court records show prosecutors have filed manslaughter charges against Ruiz. Authorities also denied him bond.
Records further show that Ruiz faced child abandonment charges in December 2024, for which he was sentenced to four years of probation.
The Houston personal injury attorneys of Gibson Hill understand how difficult it is to recover from the aftermath of a serious accident. We have helped people face these challenges and guided them through the legal system's complexities to help them receive the best medical treatment and financial compensation. Call (713) 659-4000 for a free consultation with one of our Houston Car Accident Lawyers today.
Note: Serious accidents happen every day in Texas. Our blog serves as a reminder of this devastating fact and we hope that increased awareness of the risks we all face every day helps us take further steps towards prevention. Our posts are sourced from local news outlets and are updated frequently. Should you find details that are out of date or incorrect, please let us know so we may update the post to contain the most current information.