A teenage driver was released without charges after a tragic incident on Saturday night in northeast Houston, where he hit and killed a man lying in the road. According to the Houston Police Department, the 16-year-old was driving east on Quitman Street around 8:25 p.m. when he struck the victim.
Upon hearing frantic screams, the teen stopped his vehicle and discovered that he had run over a 36-year-old man who was on the pavement near the intersection of Quitman and Davis, just west of the Eastex Freeway. Unfortunately, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police officials indicated that the victim may have been in distress, suggesting the possibility that he intended to take his own life earlier that day. “Family has shown up, and we do believe that this person was in distress and wanted to commit suicide earlier today, and so that could be the potential reason why they were lying in the roadway,” said HPD Sgt. Rebecca Davis at the scene.
The young driver showed no signs of impairment, and the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy is still ongoing. The identity of the victim has yet to be released.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for support for those who may be struggling in silence.