After a southbound vehicle crashed into another car at approximately 10:45 on a recent night, one of the drivers fled the scene. The man who is believed to be that individual is now in police custody. Law enforcement officers stated that he turned himself in at the Grand Prairie Police Department on Saturday.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the other car left behind a passenger who, along with the driver of the other vehicle, was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Sadly, however, another occupant in the vehicle that was struck died at the hospital. This person was only identified as a juvenile.
Criminal charges have been filed
The Texas police officers investigating the crash believe the man they have in custody was the driver of the vehicle that caused the collision. He is now facing multiple criminal charges, and the investigation remains active. Cases like this often lead to litigation in civil court when surviving family members of a fatally injured child seek restitution by filing a wrongful death claim.
Texas law enables immediate family members of a deceased victim to seek compensation for damages in court that the decedent would have been able to recover if he or she had survived. In the case of a child, a parent or guardian can act on behalf of the child’s estate. A plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the decedent but acted with negligence, which was the proximate cause of the individual’s death. It is helpful to seek guidance and support from a personal injury attorney before filing a wrongful death claim.