Citizens chase, stop robbery suspects after hit-and-run crash

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Citizens fed up with crime took the law into their own hands Sunday and chased a vehicle involved in a Harris County hit-and-run crash.

They followed the car to an H-E-B on F.M. 2920 in north Harris County.

Robert Neinast says he saw the car rear-end a truck. He said the driver sped away even though the car's hood had popped open and smoke was coming from the engine.

Neinast and several other drivers chased the car to the grocery store.

Police eventually arrested three people in the car.

Neinast, who was once a volunteer firefighter, says he felt he had to help the public.

"They were also endangering other people going down 2920," Neinast said. "People were getting out of their way because, like I said, the hood was up.The guy was looking through about that much of the windshield trying to drive."

Authorities suspect the two men and one woman in the car were involved in the robberies of a Radio Shack and that same H-E-B store earlier in the day.

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Man arrested in fatal hit-and-run in League City

LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- A family's three-year journey for closure after a deadly accident is almost over. A man is now in jail accused of the crime. The clue that lead police to the suspected killer was an apology note he left on the victim's body.

Alejandro Garcia was identified in this case as a suspect in July 2011 but ever since, police believe he has been on the run. With the help of a Galveston County Precinct 8 deputy, League City police finally arrested him Tuesday and the victim's aunt got to see it for herself.

"It gives me peace," Helen Green said.

It was the moment Green has been waiting for three years -- Alejandro Garcia's arrest, and it was made sweeter by the fact she was an eyewitness.

"He left my nephew out there to die," she said.

Green lives just four houses down from Garcia, the man League City police believe hit and killed her nephew Maurice Jones in March 2009.

"I miss him, I miss him very, very much," he said.

Jones was last known to be walking home from work along Dickinson Avenue. The next day an officer found his body on the side of the road along with a remorseful handwritten note mentioning family.

"That was cowardness that he had a family to think about. Well Maurice got a family too," Green said.

It took two years for police to identify Garcia as a suspect and by then they believe he had fled to Mexico. But everyday Green had to drive by his house where Garcia's family remained.

"It's like someone stabbed me in the back constantly," Green said.

On Monday, authorities got a tip Garcia was back. On Tuesday, they arrested him, and Green got home in time to see him in handcuffs.

"I felt like I won a million dollars yesterday and I still feel like that," Green said.

Garcia is currently in the Galveston County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He is charged with failure to stop and render aid.

Garcia's mother also was arrested Tuesday and charged for allegedly getting in the way of her son's arrest.

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Hit-and-run suspect arrested after hiding in manhole

An officer said he saw Barlo Ochoa wreck his car then run from the scene.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police officers arrested a man who allegedly hid in a manhole after a hit-and-run crash.

The crash happened on the Gulf Freeway between South Wayside and Griggs in southeast Houston.

An officer said he saw Barlo Ochoa wreck his car then run from the scene. That officer chased Ochoa until he jumped into a nearby manhole and refused to come out.

A dive team rescued Ochoa from the manhole.

He was taken to the hospital. There is no word on this condition.

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Driver killed in southwest Houston hit-and-run

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives are searching for a woman who fled the scene of a deadly hit-and-run accident in southwest Houston.

The wreck happened around 2:10am at the intersection of Harwin and Fondren, police said.

A woman driving a silver Nissan Pathfinder ran a red light and struck a Nissan truck heading northbound on Fondren. The woman got out of her vehicle, checked on the victim but then fled on foot with her male passenger. The driver of the Nissan truck died.

The woman, who's been described only as a Hispanic woman between the ages of 20 and 25, was last seen headed southbound on Fondren.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Hit and Run Unit at 713-247-4065 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

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Suspect ID'd in school bus hit-and-run wreck

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The man involved in the hit-and-run accident with a New Caney ISD school bus Wednesday has been identified.

Tyler Schlosser has been charged with DWI, after backing into the bus and then attempting to flee the scene. Police stopped Schlosser, found a beer in his car, and arrested him.

There were about a dozen kids from Porter Elementary School on the bus when it was hit, but fortunately no one appeared to be hurt.

Authorities say more charges could be coming.

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Police: Driver chases down hit-and-run suspect

A hit-and-run crash led to a chase between a driver and the person he hit.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A driver involved in a hit-and-run accident decided to chase after the car that hit him last night.

It all started on the Gulf Freeway, when the driver of an SUV rear-ended a car and then took off. The driver of the car chased the SUV all the way to southwest Houston where he boxed it in at a dead-end.

Police say the driver of the SUV got out and ran, but was eventually caught by police.

Officers say the driver was drunk. The driver of the car he hit said the chase reached speeds of up to 95 miles per hour. At one point, the suspect rolled down his window and asked why they were chasing him.

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Man fatally struck by hit-and-run driver

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search is on for a driver who ran over and killed someone and just kept driving early this morning.

The deadly hit and run happened on West Fuqua in southwest Houston about 2:15am. Police say the victim is a Hispanic male in his 40s. The driver who hit him was headed west on Fuqua.

According to police, a witness saw the driver swerve and apparently hit the man, who was standing in the street, but then kept going. He ended up stopping at the stop sign. A witness says the driver got out of his car and looked at his vehicle.

"The witness then made eye contact with the suspect and he told him, 'Hey, I think you hit somebody back there and you may want to go back.' That male then got back in his car and then drove off," said an investigating officer.

The witness also told authorities the driver didn't appear intoxicated.

Police are looking for a white Honda Accord with front right end damage, and possible window damage as well. There was a woman driver who apparently tried to chase down that driver to get a license plate. Police would like to speak that driver as well.

The victim hasn't been identified.

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Deputies: Bicyclist killed by hit-and-run driver

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man was arrested overnight after deputies say he was so drunk he didn't even know he ran over and killed someone.

The victim -- a 53-year-old man -- was riding his bike on Jones Road near Fallbrook when he was hit and killed just before midnight.

Deputies say the driver who hit him took off, but a license plate fell off the cargo van. Minutes later, they tracked down the van's owner, who told deputies his friend was driving.

They then tracked down that friend at his home. They say he was slumped over asleep on his stairs. Deputies say he was so intoxicated that he had fallen asleep on top of the keys to the van. Deputies eventually arrested him after they had to use a Taser on him to get him to comply.

"He admitted to being the driver of that van," said Sgt S. Wolverton with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "He says he does not recall striking anything in the roadway, however."

Deputies say that driver failed a field sobriety test and now faces at least one felony charge and probably more.

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Police seek hit-and-run driver who fled from wreck

Police are looking for the driver who T-boned an SUV, trapping that driver inside

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are looking for the driver who T-boned an SUV, trapping that driver inside.

An off-duty HPD officer in his personal vehicle was following an erratic driver in a van on Richmond. The man ran a red light and crashed into a Jeep. He is then accused of jumping out of his van and running from the scene.

The driver inside the SUV was trapped inside and had to be rescued by firefighters.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Hit-and-run leads to deadly crash

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A crash in northwest Houston overnight turned into a search for who shot the driver. Police say the male driver was dead inside the vehicle and right now, they don't know if he was killed by the impact or the gunshot wounds.

Authorities say this involves separate scenes and it all began around 2:30am at the El Chaparral nightclub where a driver of this vehicle got into some kind of an altercation with several other people. They exchanged gunfire and that man got into a vehicle, ran over someone who was in the parking lot of that nightclub and then fled the scene, according to police.

Police say the driver was followed by several people and then a police officer was starting to pursue him as well when the victim struck a utility pole and the vehicle flipped over on Hempstead near Dacoma.

The power lines fell onto the vehicle and the investigators were finally able to get the body out of the vehicle because they were live lines. They had to leave the body inside the vehicle until power was turned off to those power lines.

There is an investigation to determine how exactly that driver died. The victim hasn't been identified.

The person struck outside the nightclub is listed in stable condition and is expected to recover.

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Family still seeking justice for fatal hit-and-run victim

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- All the members of one family have the same wish for the New Year and there's a chance you could help make it come true.

This family's tragic journey began last year near the intersection of Ella and Richey in north Harris County.

For the family of Mary Jackson, this was their first Christmas without her, and as the anniversary of her New Year's Eve death approaches, they pray 2012 will bring justice.

Jackson's family has missed her every day this year. but especially this Christmas weekend.

"She was ready to live and travel and enjoy her grand kids and that ended really early," her daughter, Rokeshia Holmes said. "Without parents, period -- but without your mother, it's definitely been a tough one. If it wasn't for our kids I felt like I could have just stayed buried under the covers the whole day."

Hundreds of cars pass by the site on Ella Road near Richey where she died last New Year's Eve.

Jackson was going to church services with her grandson Aundre Holmes, a tradition the family held every year. Then, another car veered into their lane and struck them head on. The 55-year-old mother of three and grandmother of 12 died.

Her grandson has a steel rod in his leg today.

"It was like a mother-son thing, I can't really describe how much I treasured her," Aundre Holmes said.

Police say that driver ran from the scene, even leaving his passenger who ended up in a coma for months.

"If that was anybody else, most likely they would have stayed there and helped somehow but he just left to cover his own hide -- just crazy," Aundre Holmes said.

As the first anniversary approaches, the family is waiting for an arrest. Investigators have worked many leads and interviewed the passenger, who owned the car, but no justice yet.

"They even left their passenger to die. That's not a friend, that's not somebody who cares, that's just somebody who is heartless. Do the right thing for once. I'm making a plea, I'm begging for you to turn yourself in," Jackson's other daughter, Tiffany Holmes said.

And as a new year approaches, the family prays answers will come in 2012.

"My hope is just to close this chapter in our life and get some justice. That's my greatest hope for this year," Rokeshia Holmes said.

The family will hold a candlelight vigil on New Year's Eve. If you have any information you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. You can remain anonymous and could claim up to a $5,000 reward.

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DPS seeks information on hit-and-run crash

  THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- A pedestrian remained critical Saturday after being struck by a vehicle, and officials are asking for help in tracking down the driver.

The accident happened around 1:55am Friday on the Intertstate 45 northbound frontage road just north of Rayford Road in Montgomery County.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the victim was riding his bike when an unidentified vehicle struck him and fled the scene.

The victim was transported to Memorial Herman Hospital in The Woodlands. At last check, he was in critical condition.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call DPS at 281-297-6590.

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Woman now in custody for unusual hit-and-run wreck

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A woman is now in custody after police say she hit a local high school student with her car, left him a religious pamphlet and took off.

We told you on Monday that Aida Hillen was charged with felony failure to stop and render aid for the accident. We're told Hillen turned herself in at about 5pm Monday, shortly after our report aired.

Investigators say back in October, she hit a 15-year-old student trying to cross Broadway in front of Milby High School in southeast Houston, left the pamphlet and took off.

The student suffered bruised ribs, but is otherwise OK

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Woman charged in unusual hit-and-run accident

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are searching for a woman charged in a hit and run that happened outside of a local high school in mid-October. What's particularly strange about this case is what the woman is accused of doing after hitting the student.

It happened at an intersection where kids cross everyday -- an extremely busy intersection. While Houston police are looking for the woman who allegedly hit a 15-year-old boy and drove off, it's what the driver did before she left the scene that has everyone scratching their heads.

According to court documents, a League City address is listed for Aida Hillen, But no one at the home would comment to Eyewitness News, only to say Hillen wasn't inside. The 59-year-old woman is charged with felony failure to stop and render aid. So far, Houston police say they haven't been able to find her either.

According to Houston police, Hillen was driving a car when she allegedly struck the right side of 15-year-old Jonah Garcia. It happened one night in October at about 7pm. Garcia was crossing Broadway from Milby High School and fell down in the street near the curb.

What police say happened next is disturbing. According to court documents, Hillen stopped and asked if Garcia was all right. He answered no, but Hillen allegedly tossed a Christian booklet out of her window and drove off.

Authorities say Garcia suffered bruised ribs, but is otherwise OK. Kids cross this part of Broadway every day before and after school. Milby High School student Cesar Salas, 18, says he almost got hit last month trying to cross.

"There was an 18-wheeler over there," he recalled. "I assumed there was a red light but I couldn't see. I took a step and he started honking and I stepped back. That's when I almost got hit."

Milby High School student Cassandra Perez, 18, says she wasn't surprised to learn about the accident.

"By the way they be driving here, no. They be driving really fast," Perez said.

Authorities say they are looking for Aida Hillen, 59, who was last seen driving a 1996 Honda Accord with Texas plates 012-RTH. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Your call can remain anonymous.

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Woman charged in fatal hit-and-run wreck along Beaumont Highway

Lydia Mejia, 62, is charged with an accident that caused injury or death.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A female driver has been charged in a deadly hit-and-run wreck along Beaumont Highway over the weekend.

The victim, Juan Mascotto, was walking on the side of the highway in the 11000 block near John Ralston on Saturday night when he was hit by a pickup truck. The driver told deputies he just didn't see Mascotto, but he did stop.

Then a second truck hit Mascotto and one of the people who had stopped to help. The driver, Lydia Mejia, took off, but bystanders caught her about a mile away.

Mejia, 62, is charged with an accident that caused injury or death.

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Woman accused in hit-and-run that injured student

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A woman is accused of hitting a student with her car in Houston and driving away after throwing him a Christian booklet.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 52-year-old Aida Hillen of League City. She was charged with failure to stop and render aid on November 30, but has not yet been arrested.

According to court documents, a Milby High School student was crossing Broadway Street around 5:15pm on October 14 when he was struck by a car traveling south on Broadway.

The 15-year-old fell on impact. He told police the driver of the car stopped and asked if he was OK. He said he replied "no," and then the woman tossed a Christian booklet at him and drove away.

Court documents state that a witness wrote the car's license plate number on his arm and called police.

Emergency responders treated the victim at the scene and he was released, but he was later diagnosed with bruised ribs, officials said.

The student picked Hillen out of a photo line-up. Police said they talked to her and she admitted to driving but denied hitting anyone.

You can read more about this story through our Houston Community Newspapers partner, the Bay Area Citizen.

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Police seek driver's ID in hit-and-run

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police need help identifying a driver who hit a biker several months ago and fled the scene in northeast Houston.

Investigators say around 5:40am on January 7, a man was biking northbound in the 19500 block of Lee Road when a driver struck the biker, knocking him into a ditch on the side of the road. The diver didn't stop to help the vehicle, even after the mirror on the right side of the vehicle struck the man and the cover broke off. The mirror cover, which is maroon, is the only evidence detectives have. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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