2 teens killed crossing SW Freeway while running away from police, woman and teen in custody: HPD
Police said the pursuit ensued after they received a shoplifting call in the Galleria area.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Two teens were hit and killed after running across the Southwest Freeway during a chase that ended in a crash on Thursday night, according to the Houston Police Department.
Police said the incident began when they received a shoplifting call in the Galleria area on Westheimer Road. Following that call, they said they located the car and attempted to stop it before the suspects fled.
During the chase, the suspects got into a minor crash on I-69 before two of the four suspects got out of the car and ran, according to HPD.
"They made it all across the northbound lanes of the freeway. As they started crossing the southbound lanes, two of the occupants were struck by oncoming traffic and, unfortunately, those two females were pronounced deceased at the scene, and the other two were detained shortly thereafter and are now in police custody," HPD Assistant Chief James Bryant said.
In an update on Friday afternoon, HPD said the two people killed were a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old. HPD added that the drivers who hit the two girls stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Deandra Mercedes Cooke, 30, was one of the women taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor evading on foot in connection with Thursday's incident, according to HPD. A 16-year-old was the second person taken into custody and charged with evading on foot, but authorities said their identity will not be released.
HPD did not say if Cooke or the teen arrested will face additional charges in connection with the shoplifting or fatal crashes.
