3 Injured When Police Chase Leads To Crash

POSTED: 1:59 pm CDT August 7, 2007

UPDATED: 5:10 pm CDT August 7, 2007

HOUSTON -- A police car hit a sport utility vehicle, causing it to overturn, during a high-speed chase with another vehicle, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday. Three people, including a Houston police officer and a 5-year-old boy, were injured.

Video: Innocent Victims Hit In Police Chase

The chase started after officers pulled over a vehicle on Bellaire Boulevard near Rookin Road shortly after 1 p.m., according to authorities. The driver had outstanding warrants and officers said the car appeared to be stolen, officials said.

The chase wound through 10 miles of southwest Houston along Bellaire Boulevard, Hillcroft Street and Braeswood Boulevard before ending at an apartment complex on Forum Park Drive near Sugar Branch. As the cars sped through the intersection of West Airport at South Gessner Road, witnesses said the fleeing car ran a red light. Apparently, Carlotta Pena did not see the police officer's car coming. Her SUV collided with the patrol car, sending her and her 5-year-old grandson, Henry Peneda, to the hospital.

"They're minor injuries, but nothing life threatening," said Sgt. Rhonda Turner, with HPD's accident division.

Officers are investigating whether Henry was wearing a seat belt.

Pena had just finished meeting her husband for lunch.

"She told me she was going to pick up my grandson and I told her to be careful. After 15 minutes, she called (to tell me) this happened," husband Felix Reyes said.

The police officer, who was not identified, was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital with minor injuries. All three accident victims were expected to be treated and released.

Three suspects were taken into custody. The driver is expected to face multiple charges.