A big rig crashed into a Texas Department of Public Safety office in an apparently “deliberate” act, officials said Friday. One person was killed and at least a dozen others were injured, according to DPS Sgt. Justin Lewis attended a press conference Friday afternoon.
The suspects stole an 18-wheeler and drove it into an office in Brenham, about 120 kilometers west of Houston, in a “deliberate and heinous act.” Said Texas Sen. Royce Kolkhorst issued a statement on social media.
Lewis said the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Clenard Parker, had been denied a commercial driver's license at the Brenham office the previous afternoon. Lewis said officers were chasing the stolen rig when it apparently made a sharp right turn into the DPS office and crashed into the driver's license waiting area.
Parker, a Chapel Hill resident, was arrested and is being held in the Washington County Jail, according to online inmate records. He is charged with multiple charges including evading arrest and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Three people were taken to area hospitals with serious injuries, and one died at the hospital, Lewis said. The other three people were transported by ambulance to a local hospital in stable condition and all three were treated and released.
Eight people were treated at the scene and released, Lewis said. The suspect was not among the injured.
Officials said the identity of the deceased will not be released until next of kin is notified.
Two of the airlifted patients were taken to St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan, and the third was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Lewis said.
Three people were transported by ambulance to Baylor Scott and White in Brenham.
Blenheim Mayor Atwood Kenjura praised law enforcement's quick response to prevent the suspect from attacking again.
“If it had not been for their quick action, the suspect would have backed the car up with the intention of getting back into the car, as seen across the street,” Kenjura told reporters.
Kolkhorst, who represents the area, said no DPS employees were seriously injured and one employee was trapped in the building “for a period of time.” Lewis said it was unclear exactly how many of the injured were DPS officers and how many were civilians.
The Texas Rangers are in charge of the investigation.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a vast agency and one of the largest state law enforcement agencies in the country. Among them are police officers who are central to a massive border patrol operation on the U.S.-Mexico border, and Texas Rangers, the state's top criminal investigators. However, the department also has offices within the state that issue driver's licenses.