Cafeteria worker who hit student with car can no longer drive without permission
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- An Alief ISD cafeteria worker can no longer drive without permission after she allegedly hit a student with her vehicle.
Chinyere Iheagwam, 56, was charged with with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for her role in a crash that injured a student.
Police say Iheagwam was driving a red Chevy in the 4400 block of Cook Road near Hastings High School when she reportedly struck the student, who was identified as Anthony Velasquez.
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Prosecutors say Iheagwam was captured on video hitting Velasquez. She allegedly told investigators she was driving around 16 miles per hour, but prosecutors said otherwise.
"The vehicle passed the school bus at an estimated speed of 45 to 50 miles an hour at which time she struck the complainant," read a prosecutor in court.
Police told ABC13 surveillance video of the crash shows a group of several teens on the sidewalk, crossing the street shortly after school let out.
"For someone who is there every day and knows exactly what the students do at 2:30 in the afternoon, to be driving like that in that lane at that speed, it defines reckless," prosecutor Sean Teare said.
Classmates of Velasquez say the driver should know better, considering she works at the schools.
"She should have been more aware, to be honest, she knows we're on a school campus, she should know that school should end at this time," said one classmate.
Alief ISD increased police presence around the school following the crash, though the district did not wish to speak on the specifics of the crash.
When asked if those policies should have been implemented before, Eichhorn declined to comment.
Velasquez remains hospitalized at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital.
