Teen driver charged in crash that killed 14-year-old passenger when SUV slammed into tree, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Authorities have charged a teenage driver after they say a 14-year-old passenger was killed in a crash in southwest Houston over the weekend.

The Houston Police Department said it happened along West Fuqua near Buffalo Speedway at about 10:45 p.m. on Saturday.

According to police, an SUV left the roadway for unknown reasons and hit a tree in the median.

HPD said the driver, 16, and front-seat passenger, 14, ran away but later returned to the scene.

A 14-year-old who was in the back seat remained trapped in the vehicle and died, police said.

The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries before he was taken into custody on a charge of failure to stop and render aid.