A man has been taken into police custody after a dramatic incident in which he has been accused of stealing a car and using it to run multiple pedestrians down. The spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety stated their belief that he deliberately targeted pedestrians, but they have not yet speculated as to what his motives may have been. Two of the people that were hit have died, and another two have been taken to hospitals in San Antonio for treatment.
The alleged rampage began when the 40-year-old man apparently hit a pedestrian in a parking lot at the corner of Iowa Street and Pine Street in San Antonio. Instead of getting out of the car to help, the man has been accused of reversing the vehicle and running over the pedestrian a second time. The person who was struck was dragged by the car for a short way and succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The man then allegedly drove down three more pedestrians, killing one of them and leaving another two with life-threatening injuries. According to eyewitness reports, the man eventually crashed the stolen car and attempted to escape on foot. He was seized by bystanders and held for the authorities. He has been charged with murder, aggravated assault and failure to stop and give information.
The driver faces serious criminal penalties relating to the collisions, and the families of any of the people who were killed in the rampage may choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the man. An attorney may be able to assist them as they seek to recover their damages in civil court. Any actions filed against a defendant such as this would be civil actions and would not be part of the criminal case.
Source: News 4 San Antonio, “Carjacker ran over pedestrians, killing two,” Feb. 19, 2015
