Man accused in fatal Spring crash that killed 3 faces judge

HOUSTON -- The man accused of killing three members of a Spring family in a DUI accident is still behind bars, but today faced a Harris County judge.

Prosecutors say 25-year-old Jeremy Valdez was drunk, ran a red light and smashed into the family's car over the weekend.

This is not the first DUI charge for Valdez. He has three previous DUI convictions, but this time he is accused of killing three people.

Valdez made his first appearance in a Harris County court Monday morning.

According to court records, Valdez ran a red light at FM 2920 and Kuykendahl and slammed into Emilio Avila and his wife Hilda and their 17-year-old son Mauricio Ramires.

The family died at the scene.

Valdez tried to run away but was tackled by a wrecker driver, according to authorities.

This is Valdez's fourth DUI charge since 2010. He spent two years in jail for felony DUI. This time, Valdez could be facing a much longer sentence.

Alison Baimbridge, chief of the Vehicular Crimes Section, said, "If you are committing a felony other then manslaughter and in the course of that felony you commit acts that are dangerous to human life, like speeding or running a red light and someone or more that one person loses their life in that act we charge them with felony murder. So this defendant is looking at what normally is five to life, because he has a prior criminal conviction that has sentenced him to TDC time he will be enhanced 15 to life."

We asked how someone with three DUI convictions could be driving around, the prosecutor said once Valdez served his prison time he was like anyone else.

Bond was set at $300,000.