A man whose actions allegedly caused the death of three people on Wednesday will not be released on bond immediately.
Thirty-year-old Gregory Smith is charged with three counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. Authorities say he drove while high and caused a crash and fire that killed three members of a family, including an infant.
The crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon at Antoine Drive and Beltway 8 in Harris County. The victims have been identified as Piedad Soriano, her daughter Diana Escobar, and Escobar’s baby Ricardo Junior.
Surveillance video shows Smith’s SUV T-boning the family’s van after hitting another vehicle. Almost immediately, the van burst into flames.
An 11-year-old girl who was thrown from the van survived. She suffered a concussion, bruises, and bumps.
Chief of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Division, Sean Teare. said it was one of the most tragic scenes he had encountered.
He said hIS office was waiting on Smith toxicology’s results. However, he said based on what deputies reported, the driver was under the influence of illicit drugs, probably PCP.
Prosecutors say Smith was high on PCP when he became involved in another DWI incident in July 2019.
At the time of the crash on Wednesday, Smith was out on bond for that charge and a May 2019 charge of assaulting a public official.
Constable Mark Herman of Harris County Precinct 4 told a news conference Smith was a career criminal who had 14 other charges filed against him since 2017. Seven charges were dismissed.
He said Smith wouldn’t be able to bond out until a later hearing.
Meanwhile, Teare said Smith could have a bond hearing in a few weeks and the prosecutors would ask for a high bond.
Smith could face additional charges when prosecutors get the medical records of the two survivors of Wednesday’s crash.
If you’re facing criminal charges in Houston, be sure to contact a Houston criminal defense attorney for assistance.
Source: https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/career-criminal-will-not-get-bond-after-deadly-suspected-dwi-crash-that-killed-3-family-members/285-7f597525-1a53-434d-9b40-59a827c2e755