Driver charged in deadly crash with rodeo bus in SW Houston

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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
One dead in crash involving rodeo charter bus
Police are investigating a deadly accident in southwest Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 43-year-old driver who police say was responsible for a fatal accident involving a rodeo charter bus in SW Houston has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.

According to police, Gregory Charles was driving a black Chevrolet that slammed into a Nissan stopped at a red light at the intersection of Almeda and Reed Road late Tuesday. The Nissan was pushed into the intersection, where it struck a charter bus shuttling for rodeo festivities.

The Nissan then continued through the intersection, where it struck a second charter bus before coming to a stop.

The driver of the Nissan, a 65-year-old man whose identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The aftermath of the crash was caught on a witness's cell phone camera as he tried to wake up Charles.

RAW VIDEO: Police investigate deadly crash in SW Houston

One person is dead after a major crash overnight

"I was trying to wake him up and pat him for at least like five minutes," witness Chris Gonzalez said. "Pat him hard, trying to wake him up."

Gonzalez also started recording the aftermath of the crash.

"[Charles] woke up and I said, 'Sir can you just turn your radio off?' And he was turning his radio off, trying to turn the radio off and he did turn it off, and I smiled because he is still alive," Gonzalez said.

The video shows that driver was disoriented and did not say anything to witnesses.

His video shows a Chevy pickup truck with extensive front-end damage.