SAN ANGELO, TX — Police believe alcohol and driving at a high rate of speed are contributing factors when the driver of a black Dodge Charger rammed through the transportation center on N. Chadbourne St. at the Houston Harte Expressway.
Sgt. Cade Solsbery, head of the San Angelo Police Department’s Traffic Division, said the driver is facing felony hit-and-run charges. The driver, described as a female, fled the scene, leaving two passengers in the vehicle injured. Both passengers were rushed to Shannon Medical Center’s emergency room with what Solsbery described as minor injuries.
WATCH: A pan of the crash scene early Sunday morning:
There is significant damage to the exterior as well as inside the building where the Charger was observed to have completely entered the structure.
The building damaged is at the location of the original Santa Fe Railroad Depot built in 1908. It was razed in 1947. Using 2009 federal grant money, the multi-modal transportation center was constructed there earlier this decade to house the Concho Valley Transit District. The architect designed to building to mimic the former railroad depot in the Spanish style.
Solsbery said his officers used surveillance video footage to determine that the driver, described as a Hispanic female, fled the scene. Initially he believed one of the drivers was among the two injured and transported to the hospital.
The crash happened just after 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
Fleeing the scene of a traffic accident can be a felony if the injury to those involved is serious. “Serious bodily injury” can result in a third degree felony, according to Section 550.001 of the Texas Transportation Code. Damaging the building can result in a Class B misdemeanor if the damage exceeds $200 in value or more. If police can gather the evidence, the driver could face charges for intoxicated assault for harming her passengers. If found guilty, it is a third degree felony, with penalties of 2-20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Solsbery said the crash is under investigation and police are actively searching for the driver who fled.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Comments
The original Gulf Colorodo and Santa Fe railroad station was across the tracks where the Catholic Charity building is now located. The Transportation Center covers (the exact spot is unknown) the original shop and generator building of San Angelo's early street cars. Western Iron Works covered the area long after the street cars were gone. The driver needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkPost a comment to this article here: