On Friday, April 12, a 42-year-old man smashed an 18-wheeler into a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) office, killing one person and injuring 13 others.
According to a department media briefing, the vehicle struck the Brenham office just before 11:00 a.m.
Texas DPS Sgt. Justin Reese stated that various law enforcement organizations were tracking the truck after it was reported stolen.
Reese stated that the suspect, identified as Clenard Parker and arrested, had visited the office on Thursday.
“Parker did appear at the DPS Brenham office yesterday, about 3 or 4 p.m., and was denied his commercial driver’s license. “While he was there, the driver’s license staff informed Parker that he was ineligible to renew his commercial driver’s license,” Reese explained.
As per Reese, when law enforcement discovered the stolen truck, they attempted to stop the driver. According to Reese, the driver then made a U-turn before turning sharply right and driving through the building’s front office. Parker was caught and removed from the driver’s seat as he attempted to crash through the structure again, Reese said.
According to the sergeant, the event is being regarded as a “criminal investigation” by the Texas Rangers, and Parker “did not suffer any injuries.”
There were fourteen persons in the office. “One person has died, two have serious injuries, three were taken to a hospital and released, and eight were treated on the scene,” the department reported on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday afternoon.
“What I can tell you today is that this location is safe. During a media briefing, Reese stated that the suspect has been apprehended and efforts are underway to clean up the scene. Gerald Brown, Regional Director of Texas DPS, described the incident as a “tragic day” and expressed his condolences to the injured families.
According to Washington County Jail records acquired by PEOPLE, Parker was charged with unlawful use of a vehicle and escaping arrest resulting in serious bodily injury. Parker, according to KHOU, has “several previous arrests.”
At the media conference, Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who had visited the scene following the event, congratulated first responders and stated that the suspect would be prosecuted to “the fullest extent of the law.”
Kolhorst shared a snapshot from the scene on social media, writing, “From what we know so far, this was a premeditated act of violence against innocent individuals and civil servants who work in this facility. As I stated during the press conference, we will punish this coward to the full extent of the law. This heinous and murderous crime will not be accepted in my community or our state.”
“Please join me in praying for the deceased, the injured victims and all families impacted,” she went on to say.