Sugar Land employee dies after being hit by chase suspects on Highway 90A, officials say

SUGAR LAND, Texas (KTRK) -- A Sugar Land Public Works Department employee is the innocent driver who was hit and killed by burglary suspects fleeing police during a chase that started in Missouri City on Wednesday morning.

Authorities identified 56-year-old Joseph Aponte Sr. as the victim. According to a spokesman, he worked for the City of Sugar Land for about a year.

A new video obtained by ABC13 shows the suspects leaving the scene of the burglary on Crestmont Loop Place in Missouri City about 15 minutes before the fatal crash.

The video shows two vehicles involved: a black SUV and a Toyota Camry.

According to Missouri City police, officers responding to the burglary call initiated a traffic stop on the black SUV, but it sped off. The failed traffic stop turned into a chase.

The SUV entered Sugar Land on Highway 90A and ran a red light at Gillingham Lane at about the same time Aponte was entering the intersection. He was in a Public Works truck. He did not survive the crash.

"My heart goes out to the family today of our coworker who lost his life in this horrible incident," Sugar Land Police Chief Mark Poland said. "This is pretty hard. It hits home."

The crash happened at about 10:30 a.m. in front of the Public Works building. Colleagues rushed out to render aid. The city lowered flags at the building to half-staff by Wednesday afternoon.

Three people were in the suspect car, two of whom crews had to extricate. All suspects were taken to the hospital before going to jail.

"Absolutely, we will be pursuing murder charges-100%," Poland said.

Missouri City police said officers located the second vehicle in Houston and made an arrest but did not respond to ABC13's questions about chase policy and procedures.