Dad of 12-year-old driver who hit and killed man and dog charged
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A father has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and endangering a child after he allegedly let his 12-year-old daughter drive his car that struck and killed a man and his dog.
Prosecutors say the father, Tomas Mejia, initially told investigators he was the one driving, but they soon learned it was actually his daughter behind the wheel.
There was also a 2-year-old in the backseat. The child was in a safety seat, but still prosecutors say it was extremely dangerous.
The crash happened at 6061 Beverly Hill Street at Fountain View around 4 p.m. Thursday.
Neighbors told Eyewitness News the victim, Enrique Vazquez, 47, was seen walking his dogs often. No one knows how or why the young girl was behind the wheel.
Witnesses told us they even saw officers giving the 12-year-old a field sobriety test.
"They did her like she was drunk," one woman said. "We were wondering why they would do that test on her if she's just like a teenager. She's not supposed to be drunk or anything."
RELATED: Man and his dog killed by 12 year old girl driving car.
"That's the big question," a neighbor said. "I mean, for me, I would never allow my children behind the wheel of the car, especially not at that age. Very tragic for the gentleman and his dog to be hit and killed."
Houston police will only say this is an active investigation. Neighbors said the young girl is back home with her family.
Mejia made bond over the weekend and was expected to make his first court appearance. However, he was taken into ICE custody after he bonded out.
"I have no information as to his immigration status or whether he has been deported previously, nor do I know how ICE got a hold of him. Typically, if there's a hold for whatever reason, then ICE is going to be sitting there if and when they make bond, and I believe that's what happened there," said Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare.
Mejia's court appearance was reset for the beginning of October.
