Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — A Houston man has been charged with intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid following a collision on U.S. 59 that killed a Splendora firefighter and his wife as well as injured their two young daughters.
Alejandro Guzman-Lopez, 23, a laborer living in Houston, was held without bail Monday on these charges because he’s not a legal resident and could flee, Montgomery County prosecutor Tyler Dunman said.
Baby, toddler hurt
The charges followed the death Sunday night of firefighter Brad Frazier, and his wife, Shea, both 21 of Splendora. The couple’s two daughters, a 2-year-old and 5-week-old infant, were treated for their injuries at a Houston hospital and then released to relatives.
“Their young children are recovering. I’m not sure they fully understand what’s happened to their family yet,” Dunman said. Frazier’s older brother, Brandon, is the former chief of the Splendora fire department, authorities said.
According to investigators, Guzman-Lopez was “swerving all over the road” in a Buick sedan as he traveled north on U.S. 59. before he clipped the back of the Fraziers’ Ford Explorer about 7 p.m. Sunday near where the freeway intersects Ipes Road. The Explorer began to spin and then flipped, killing Shea Frazier instantly at the scene. Her husband, Brad, was pronounced dead upon arrival at a Houston hospital where his children also received medical treatment.
Dunman said the adults were wearing seat belts and the children strapped into car seats when the crash occurred.
Suspect fled on foot
Guzman-Lopez, who received only minor injuries, fled from his wrecked vehicle after it also came to a stop. However, another motorist who had stopped to help ran after him, tackling him about 200 yards from the scene of the wreck.
“This good Samaritan held the suspect until investigators arrived to take him into custody,” Dunman said.
A sample of his blood was taken to be tested but the results are not back yet. The intoxication charge was filed based on an assessment of the suspect’s behavior at the scene, Dunman said.
U.S. 59 was shut down and did not reopen for several hours while the investigation was conducted, he said.
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