Police chase leads to deadly accident

02:14 PM CST on Sunday, January 11, 2009

by Alex Sanz and Michelle Ponto / 11 News

HOUSTON -- Moments after the crash that killed her son, a grieving mother asks why.

Houston Chronicle

Homero Rosales [shown on the left] had been an employee of the Houston Chronicle for 23 years. He had worked his way up from building maintenance to the press room.

HPD said the three-minute pursuit started after an officer spotted a stolen pick-up truck and tried to pull the teen driver over. It ended when he ran through the intersection of South 79th and Elwood and broadsided a moving sports utility vehicle.

The impact sent the SUV across two front yards. Its driver, Homero Rosales, Jr., a press operator, and 23 year employee of the Houston Chronicle, was killed after the vehicle hit a tree.

"He was always a very happy person. It’s very sad that this had to happen like this. We're going to look into it and we're going to keep going," said Mario Rosales, victim’s brother.

"I pushed on the brakes with both feet, but the truck didn't stop," said Frank Marron, suspect.

11News sources said the driver of the stolen pick-up truck was Frank Marron. He's 17-years-old, and according to police records, has stolen vehicles before. He's no in jail and facing a felony murder charge.

"I didn't steal it. I found it," said Marron. "I don't want to go to jail. I don't have a driver’s license."

Police pursuits, like the one on South 79th, have repeatedly come under fire. In 2007, a young mother was killed after a man police were chasing broadsided her truck.

A year earlier, a woman was turning onto Highway 59, when another man fleeing police, slammed into her. He was heading the wrong way.

Critics have long argued the chases endanger lives.

"Yes, it's very tragic that this happened. But you have to put the full responsibility on the suspect that caused the accident and set all these things in motion," said Sergeant Steven Perez of the Houston Police Department.

In Saturday’s pursuit, HPD said two officers followed the stolen pick-up truck and that is within department policy.

Marron is at the Harris County jail

A passenger was also in Rosales' SUV at the time of the accident. He has been taken to a hospital and is recovering from his injuries.