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A Houston man has been charged with murder after he allegedly struck a 6-year-old child in a parking lot — and then ran over him twice more in front of the frantic grandfather.
The murder charge was filed because of Pedro Alberto Hernandez’s three previous drunk driving convictions since 2015, prosecutors said.
The fatal collision occurred around 6 p.m. Saturday when the boy was walking with family members from their apartment complex in southwest Houston to a nearby convenience store.
As they crossed the parking lot in front of the Mega Washateria laundromat, the child was struck by an SUV. The boy’s grandfather yelled at the driver — who then reportedly backed up over the boy, then drove forward over him once more.
Police were told that Hernandez smirked and attempted to drive away, but that the grandfather pulled him from the SUV and with the help of witnesses pinned him down until officers arrived.
According to court documents cited by the Houston Chronicle, Hernandez, 52, told police he drank four 16-ounce beers in his vehicle before he arrived at the laundromat, where he was to meet someone who owed him money. He was charged with driving while intoxicated as well as the felony murder charge.
Hernandez has DWI convictions in three Texas counties, in 2015, 2016 and 2020. His bail was set at $600,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
The Chronicle also reported that 90 minutes earlier, at an apartment complex 3 miles away, a 2-year-old was fatally struck in a driveway by an allegedly drunken driver. Witnesses chased the vehicle and prevented the 22-year-old man from leaving.
Originally published at Cnn Com Wire Service