The wreck happened in the 18000 block of FM 1484, north of Highway 105. An eight-month-old girl was killed and investigators believe her mother was intoxicated and behind the wheel.
The mother has been identified as 28-year-old Ashli Heil of Conroe. She was flown by a medical hospital to Memorial Hermann Hospital. The baby girl, identified as Willow Heil, died upon impact.
State troopers say they were traveling southbound on FM 1484 in a white Suburban when the mother lost control and struck a tree. Investigators believe speed and alcohol played a role.
They say the mother had the presence of mind to strap the baby into the car seat, but it didn't make a difference in the end.
"The way the impact happened with the tree, the tree came. The baby was, what EMS told us and firefighters told us, the baby was strapped in the car seat properly; just the way the impact came in with the tree, the baby just didn't stand a chance," DPS Sgt. Terry Barnhill said.
The mother is listed as stable at the hospital and now faces an intoxication manslaughter charge.
We worked on this story with our Houston Community Partners. You can read more about it in the Courier of Montgomery County.
