Hailey Reed Killed in Attempted Hit-and-Run on Westheimer Rd in Houston, TX
UPDATE (November 16, 2022): Sources have identified the victim of this accident as 19-year-old Hailey Reed.
Houston, TX — October 15, 2022, a pedestrian was struck and fatally injured by a driver that tried to leave the scene on Westheimer Road in west Houston.
Authorities say the incident happened around 2:30 a.m. in the area of 6400 Westheimer near Winrock Boulevard. Preliminary investigation suggests two women were crossing Westheimer when a pickup truck passed through and hit one of them. The driver allegedly attempted to flee but witnesses stopped the truck from leaving before police arrived.
The woman struck by the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
No further information is currently available.
If early reports have their facts straight it's some small comfort to see the driver who tried to flee didn't make it very far. It's not wholly clear whether authorities felt charges were in order since investigators alleged the victim failed to yield to the pickup, but failing to stop and render aid is generally considered a serious offense—which makes me wonder why the driver tried to take off in the first place.
That could be answered many different ways and it's not really my place to speculate, but learning the specific reason for the attempted hit-and-run is an important part of a full investigation. If the driver simply panicked that's one thing, but if they had something else to hide (warrants, expired or suspended license, drunk driving) it's best to know that as well.
To be clear, I don't know more than public reports say about what happened. Experience has taught me the importance of learning all the possible facts after an accident like this, but that doesn't mean anything should be taken for granted until clear evidence can tell the story. I just believe the victim's loved ones deserve every answer investigators can find, and I hope Houston authorities agree.
