MAY 15, 2006
FATAL CRASH OVER THE TRINITY RIVER SH 105
MAY 15, 2006
HUMBLE BAT VICTIM MEMORIAL SERVICE
Zachary Jones, a 16-year Humble High School student believed to have been infected with rabies by a bat, died Friday after a weeklong battle against the fatal disease.
The announcement of his death stunned classmates and parents in the Humble-Atascocita area, where residents held nightly vigils to pray for the popular teen.
“The kids right now are in shock,” said Deena Logan, an Atascocita resident whose daughter Cassie is a Humble High School cheerleader. “They’re asking themselves, how can this happen to such an all-American boy, a football player?”
Another Atascocita resident, Nanette Moreno, said she was saddened for the boy’s parents, Larry and Connie Jones, and expressed the bewilderment of many in the area at how such a thing happened.
“I can’t imagine burying a child,” she said. “I’ve lived in the area for 10 years and never even seen a bat. If I did see one, I probably wouldn’t have thought anything about it before now.”
Texas Children’s Hospital announced the teen’s death in a statement Friday evening.
“The family wishes to express its thanks to the community for their prayers and support,” the statement concluded.
In a subsequent statement, the hospital noted that the devastating viral disease, which attacks the body’s central nervous system, is almost always fatal.
The lone known case of an unvaccinated person surviving rabies — a 15-year-old Wisconsin girl in 2004 — had given the Jones family and friends a ray of hope, particularly after it was learned the boy’s doctors were treating him with a combination of drugs and sedation similar to that used to treat her.
But Texas Children’s Hospital spokeswoman Ann Brimberry said Friday that the Wisconsin girl, Jeanna Giese, is thought to have had a different strain of rabies than Jones. Additionally, the boy’s infection had progressed further than Giese’s had by the time he was hospitalized.
Jones was hospitalized on May 6. Several weeks earlier, his family reported he had awakened in his bedroom after being brushed on the face by a bat that had entered an open window. The bat was captured and let go outside and the boy did not seek medical attention until falling ill last week.
Because of the rarity of human cases — about three cases are reported each year in the United States; about 55,000 annually worldwide — Jones’ illness garnered national attention and an avalanche of prayers and support from friends and acquaintances throughout the Humble-Atascocita area.
It also sparked fear in area residents about the possibility of contracting the viral disease. Of particular concern for some officials and parents was the boy’s Humble Wildcats football teammates, some of whom may have drunk out of the same water bottle during practices.
Public health experts said it is possible, in theory, to transmit the disease to other people through saliva, but noted there have been no documented cases of that happening.
Classmates being treated
Nonetheless, as a precaution, officials with Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services have recommended that about 30 of Jones’ classmates seek medical attention.
A Humble Independent School District spokeswoman said earlier this week that Jones’ girlfriend was undergoing a series of vaccinations.
Earlier Friday, Jones’ fellow football players ended their afternoon practice in tearful prayers, still holding out hope before school was out that a miracle would happen and their friend and teammate would live.
“We were told he had only hours left. But nobody wanted to believe it,” said teammate Daniel Tatman, 16.
Students dressed in white Friday to show solidarity for Jones. Many had his photo pinned on their shirts, which also bore slogans urging the community to pray for the blonde blue-eyed teen that some liked to call “z-man.”
Ami Hunt, 16, said Jones was “an amazing, larger-than-life guy. He wanted to be a doctor, was really smart and got all straight A’s.” ”
He just got his driver’s license a few weeks ago, friends said.
Friday night, Humble Independent School District spokeswoman Karen Collier issued a statement: “The collective heart of our close-knit community is breaking over Zach’s death. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we hope that they will find comfort in the love and support we feel for them all.”
Dr. Rodney Willoughby, a pediatric infectious disease specialist who treated the Wisconsin rabies survivor and who consulted with Houston doctors on Jones, expressed regret at the news: “I feel badly about the boy. I know the physicians tried hard, and it just wasn’t right. Too short a timeline to get everything to happen.”
Willoughby was referring to two of the drugs used in Jeanna Giese’s case, which require special permission from federal drug regulators. The drugs are part of a combination of sedation and antiviral medications.
Coincidentally, Willoughby was in meetings this week with Centers for Disease Control officials trying to figure out how a package of special drugs can be sent out rapidly to hospitals treating rabies victims.
Jones’ illness marked the fourth time doctors have tried to replicate the Giese success. A key problem in treating rabies is that it kills so fast, advancing from no symptoms to death in five to seven days.
“We honestly don’t know if it will ever work,” Willoughby said.
MAY 15, 2006
MAYA ANGELOU AT JONES HALL
MAY 15, 2009
RICHARDS SCHOOL WAS DAMAGED CAR CRASH AND FIRE
MAY 15, 2014
SAMS MURDERER SENTENCING
On Thursday morning, Montgomery County Attorney J.D. Lambright confirmed a plea agreement was reached with the younger of two teens accused in the March 24 murder of store owner Sam Sadruddin at the ZP Mart on SH 105. He is now charged with first-degree murder and will receive a 15-year sentence.
The teen, whose name cannot be released because of his age, was originally charged with capital murder. Juvenile prosecutors said his bragging about the crime led investigators to him. The teen had already been in the juvenile court system for quite some time prior to the shooting.
MAY 15, 2014
DONALD COLLINS INDICTED AFTER ROBBIE MIDDLETON DIES AFTER BEING SET ON FIRE
A Montgomery County grand jury has indicted Don Collins on a capital murder charge for the 1998 burning of then 8-year-old Robert Middleton. This unusual case began receiving renewed public attention in 2011 after Robert Middleton disclosed new evidence concerning the crime shortly before passing away from cancer that medical experts attribute to the attack.
MAY 15, 2015
NEW CANEY FLOODING
AT 10 AM TXDOT HAS CLOSED FM 1485 AT THE EAST FORK OF THE SAN JACINTO RIVER DUE TO WATER OVER THE BRIDGE.
AT THIS TIME THE RIVER HAS CRESTED AND IS BELIEVED TO BE BELOW THE BRIDGE BY 7 PM
ANYONE LIVING IN THIS AREA IS URGED TO WATCH THE WATER LEVELS
THERE IS NO EVACUATION ORDER IN PLACE
HOWEVER, ANYONE WISHING TO LEAVE AND IS NOT ABLE TO CAN CONTACT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE NON EMERGENCY NUMBER
PLEASE HAVE ANY MEDICATIONS CLOSE BY IN CASE YOU DO NEED TO LEAVE
MAY 15, 2017
GRANGERLAND WILDFIRE
The wildfire in Grangerland has been contained. At this time the Texas Forest Service has two dozers on location cutting the fire line. Once that is done fire crews will work most likely through the night watching it and extinguishing hot spots. The cause is not yet known but is under investigation. Fire crews were dispatched around 4 pm for a smoke in the area called on Massey Road near Coon Massey. They arrived with heavy smoke coming from the woods. Additional resources were dispatched from Caney Creek, Porter, Cut and Shoot, North Montgomery County, Conroe and the Texas Forest Service. For a short time, there were several homes threatened but pumpers were placed at each location to protect them. Expect smoke in the area for the next several days. Fire equipment remains on the scene Massey Road and Lombart Roads remain closed with the help of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
MAY 15, 2020
FM 1097 DOUBLE FATAL CRASH
Just before 5 pm. Montgomery County Hospital District received a call for a head-on crash on FM 1097 near Pearson which is just west of Bentwater on Lake Conroe. Units from MCHD and Montgomery Fire arrived on the scene. A male driver in a black 2008 Nissan Titan was entrapped and deceased. A female driving a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer was also entrapped and deceased. Her passenger was also entrapped and in critical condition. The passenger was transported to Conroe Regional Hospital in critical condition. According to DPS, the Titan was westbound on FM 1097 when the driver who was in his 30s crossed the center line for unknown reasons. He slammed into the eastbound Mountaineer. Both females in the Mountaineer were in their 20’s. Montgomery County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack responded to the scene to perform the inquest. He ordered Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to transport the deceased victims to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy. DPS is not releasing the names at the moment.
MAY 15, 2021
I-69 FREEWAY CLOSURE CAUSES DRIVERS TO DANGEROUSLY EXIT
Crews have I-69 closed in both directions at SH 242. Signs were posted early in the week warning motorists of the closure. Last night after it closed traffic was backed northbound at Roman Forest and Southbound at Fostoria. The SH 242 overpass was also closed. What made traffic issues worse was the feeder at SH 242 goes down to one lane. Even though there were officers on the site the traffic signals remained functional with traffic having to stop for the red light at SH 242 even though the overpass was closed. There was nobody directing traffic through the intersection. This morning that changed. Even though the lights are functional crews are directing traffic through the intersection. As of 10 am traffic was backed up southbound to East River and northbound at FM 1485. Many motorists decided not to wait and decided to exit the freeway and travel northbound in the southbound feeder nearly striking several motorists head-on. Several accidents have already occurred. A hit and run caused a rollover at East River. A good samaritan called 911 to report it and followed the vehicle that fled until police could intercept it. The road remains closed until 7 am Monday morning. Flying J truck stop had very little business Friday night as northbound trucks were unable to cross I-69 at SH 242. Another nightmare will be for visitors to the Big Rivers Waterpark as motorists cannot cross I-69 at SH 242 they must fight the lines to Creekwood and then u-turn back in the southbound traffic to SH 242. Suggest use I-69 to FM 1485 then travel 1485 to SH 242 and east to I-69. Southbound traffic can use SH 105 to Crockett Martin to FM 2090 then west to FM 1485, south to SH 242, and east to I-69.
MAY 15, 2021
I-69 FATAL CRASH IN PORTER
Just after 4 am Saturday morning Porter Fire Department was dispatched to a reported major accident on I-69 northbound just south of FM 1314. Units arrived to find a Jeep had left the main lanes, traveled behind the guardrail, and struck an illumination pole. The vehicle did catch fire. The male driver was deceased on the scene. DPS is investigating the crash. It is unknown why the vehicle left the roadway.
MAY 15, 2022
HEADON WITH FEDERAL EXPRESS TRUCK SENDS SIX TO THE HOSPITAL
Just before 4 pm Sunday, a Lincoln Navigator with an adult male, an adult female, and two children ages 4 and 8 were traveling south on FM 1486 just before Caney Creek when for unknown reasons the Navigator crossed the center line and started heading toward the northbound ditch. At the same time, a Federal Express Step Van was traveling northbound on FM 1486. The vehicles hit the passenger side to passenger side. The two children were originally bound for the Texas Medical Center but the ambulances diverted to Hermann Woodlands where they were LifeFlighted to the Medical Center in very critical condition. Both remain in surgery. The adult female passenger was transported to Conroe in critical condition. The driver of the Navigator was transported in stable condition. The driver and passenger of the Federal Express truck were transported to Conroe in stable condition. The Federal Express truck is a contract truck from Bryan, Texas. It is believed the driver was not wearing his seatbelt his passenger in the one-seat truck was believed to be sitting on a pet food box. After the impact, the Navigator rolled over onto its roof and down a fifteen-foot embankment. A total of five ambulances from MCHD responded to the scene along with Montgomery Fire Department The road is expected to reopen close to 10 pm. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Unit is assisting DPS on the investigation.
