Tow truck driver involved in crash that killed baby faces vehicular manslaughter charge

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A baby died after a tow truck slammed into a car in northwest Harris County Sunday morning, according to deputies.

Harris County deputies responded to the crash at about 10:15 a.m. in the 6600 block of Cunningham near West Little York Road.

A Nissan sedan was at a stop light facing eastbound on West Little York Road when the tow truck collided into the Nissan, deputies said.

The driver, Jose Luna, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and is currently in police custody. The district attorney's office believes Luna was speeding and said there are no signs he tried to use his brakes before the crash.

Luna has a prior record and was sentenced to five years behind bars in 2004 for sexual assault of a child. In 2011, he was sentenced to six months in jail for a drug related charge.

The 39-year-old driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. He did not report any injuries.

A separate sedan was being towed by the truck prior to the crash, and deputies said that vehicle overturned and landed in a ditch following the accident. No one was inside that vehicle, according to deputies.

Deputies said the baby was rushed to the hospital by ambulance where he later died. He was about four to seven months old.

"When you drive like this, things like this happen," said Sean Teare, the Harris County Vehicular Crimes Division chief. "The baby hasn't had a chance to see the world."

The baby's mother was also taken to the hospital but her condition was unknown.

ABC13 reached out to Classic Towing, the company of the tow truck involved, but has not heard back.

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