Drunk man with child in car causes accident | Texas

Houston, Texas — A man who was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and had a child in the vehicle caused an accident on June 22, 2024, authorities said.

At approximately 10:59 p.m., Deputy Atluri of the 8th Precinct along with Constable Phil Sandlins observed a white Chevrolet Camaro driving recklessly in the 10500 block of S Sam Houston Pkwy E. The vehicle, driven by 30-year-old Joe Angel Lopez of Houston, Texas, was speeding and unsafely changed lanes before striking another car. Lopez did not stop and continued to accelerate, prompting Deputy Atluri to initiate a traffic stop in the 9500 block of S Sam Houston Pkwy.

When Deputy Atluri contacted him, he noticed a small child in the back seat and noted that Lopez was exhibiting several signs of intoxication. After administering the standardized field sobriety test, it was determined that Lopez was unable to safely operate the vehicle.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office accepted charges of DUI with a child under 15, failure to stop and failure to provide information. Lopez was taken to the Harris County Joint Processing Center, where his bail was set at a total of $2,600.