Thieves steal groceries from SUV after woman killed in wreck

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Onlookers were transfixed by the scene of a fatal crash on Wednesday afternoon; a heartbreaking chain of events, but what happened afterward made it even worse.

Houston police say the mother behind the wheel of the Toyota 4-runner collided with another car heading northbound on Fondren near Dumfries. She crashed into a tree and died on impact.

Her two sons -- ages 6 and 4 -- were wearing seat belts but were not sitting in car seats. They were rushed to the hospital with what we're told are non life-threatening injuries.

But before help arrived, someone pounced. Eyewitnesses told police they saw people taking groceries out of the front seat of the dead woman's SUV.

She had attended her 4-year-old's graduation ceremony at his elementary school, went to the grocery store, dropped off a friend and then on their way home, crashed.

Police believe she was at fault and wasn't wearing a seat belt.

The actions by opportunists hard to believe.

"You see the person dead. How do you feel taking the person's groceries?" said onlooker Sheila Katoo.

Sympathy for her sons spread quickly.

"I just feel sorry for the children in the vehicle, little kids," onlooker Carlton Franklin said. "The kids are innocent."