SAN ANGELO, TX — A driver of a Mercedes Benz drove off the prepared surface in the northeast bound lanes of the Houston Harte Expressway and trashed a TxDOT sign that, until the late Sunday night crash, was advising motorists that the State Park is at the next exit. Police said the driver left the engine running and fled before they arrived.
The four-door sedan must have been traveling at a high rate of speed (see pictures) because the collision completely toppled the green with white lettering TxDOT sign. The crash happened just before midnight on Sunday, July 17. Damage to the Mercedes appeared to be minimal although the airbags had deployed.
A driver of a Mercedes Benz drove off the prepared surface in the northeast bound lanes of the Houston Harte Expressway and trashed a TxDOT sign.
The fleeing driver left the engine running and the lights on.
The destroyed TxDOT sign. Charges are upgraded if this damage is more than $200.
The destroyed TxDOT sign. Charges are upgraded if this damage is more than $200.
The car was abandoned running with the lights on.
A wide view of the crash scene that is near the Academy and Steak Express on the south side of the Houston Harte.
Police believe the fleeing driver was picked up by a passing motorist but must have had a good idea of who the driver was, after all the car had license plates and registration. They did not offer a description of the fleeing driver to us.
Fleeing the scene of a crash where damage was done is usually a misdemeanor unless the cost of the damage is significant. State law states that if damage is greater than $200, the charge can be a Class B Misdemeanor with a penalty of up to six months in the county jail and a $2,000 fine. If there was injury to another person or death (and it doesn’t appear to be), the charge for leaving the scene of an accident can be a felony.
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