Sheriff's deputies say an SUV broadsided the car at the intersection of West Mount Houston and Bunny Run. The impact pushed the car off the road, through a gas station parking lot and into a wooded area.
Two of the three people in the car had to be cut out with the jaws of life.
The driver, a back seat passenger and the front seat passenger were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries. The front seat passenger, identified as Brandon Lee, was pronounced dead at Herman Hospital due to injuries sustained in the collision.
According to sheriff's deputies, the defendant fled the scene on foot after the wreck, then later returned.
Deputies say the defendant, identified as Edgar Carboso Cruz, admitted to drinking an alcoholic beverage prior to the crash and that Cruz was observed to exhibit signs of impairment at the scene.
Cruz has been arrested and charged with two counts of failure to stop and render aid and one charge of DWI.
This case remains under investigation by the Traffic Division of the Harris County Sheriffs Office.
