Police chase ends with death of innocent woman

By Stephanie Guadian

(4/24/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - A high speed police chase came to a deadly end after the suspect crashed into a truck, killing that truck's driver. The accident happened at the intersection of Astoria and Teaneck

Olivia Serenil woke up Tuesday morning to find her car stolen. Just hours later, it would be involved in a deadly police chase in a southeast Houston neighborhood.

"I saw the car and then three police behind it," said witness Santos Arqueta. "They were running like 100 miles per hour."

"They said they were going 30 or 40," we told him.

"Uh-uh, no," said Arqueta.

Just after 11am, police began chasing the driver of the stolen car in and out of neighborhoods near the Gulf Freeway. HPD says the chase lasted only five minutes before the suspect ran a stop sign, went airborne, and T-boned a Nissan truck.

"I tried to break through the window, but I couldn't get in," said witness Richard Klenk. "I saw her breathing. I thought she was OK, just unconscious. She passed away."

The driver of the truck, Rikki Sanchz, 24, died at the scene. Family members say the young mother of two was on her way to class at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

"I don't feel very good about it right now, seeing how they just removed my daughter's body from the scene," said Leo Rudd, the victim's father, when asked what he thought of HPD's chase policy. "I would have much preferred they let the stolen car go about its way with the young punk inside of it."

The 23-year-old suspect tried to get away on foot, but officers caught him and used a Taser on him to bring him under control.

The suspect was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Officers tell us that the suspect will likely face charges of felony murder.

(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)