NOVEMBER 15, 2007
111507 LIBERTY MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCEMENT
NOVEMBER 15, 2011
HARRIS COUNTY JURY RULES IN GM FAVOR IN 2011 FATAL NEW CANEY CRASH
Zachary Stevens was a teenager headed to bible study when his Saturn Sky shot across FM 1485 at Sullivan Road and into a pickup and killed the driver.
On Monday Harris County District Judge Robert Schaffer denied GM’s bid to throw out a lawsuit over the fatal 2011 crash blamed on a faulty ignition switch, after the company accused a car driver and his lawyers of fabricating evidence about the vehicle’s key.
GM accused Stevens and his parents of trying to buttress their case by displaying a key chain carrying more weight than the one actually used in the crash.
Harris County Judge Robert Schaffer said in his mid-trial ruling, however, that he would instruct jurors that a key shown to them was not the one used by Zachary Stevens to drive the 2007 Saturn Sky involved in the crash, according to GM.
Engineers at America’s biggest automaker, which got a $50 billion government bailout in the financial crisis, knew of a flawed ignition switch but rejected a fix that would have cost 90 cents apiece, according to evidence provided to lawmakers. The switch could be jarred into the “accessory” position, shutting off the engine, disabling power steering and brakes and preventing air bags from deploying. The faulty switches are linked to the deaths of at least 124 people, many of them in entry-level cars marketed to young drivers — a graduation gift from proud parents, a starter car for college — least prepared to react to a sudden loss of power on the road.
GM has replaced the switches on most of those vehicles. This is the third case related to the defective ignition switches that the automaker has won this year.
General Motors spent 2014 under a harsh congressional spotlight, recalling millions of Ions, Cobalts, and other vehicles. It spent 2015 scrambling for deals with prosecutors and plaintiffs. It’s already paid more than $2 billion to resolve investigations and a securities lawsuit, as well as injury claims.
A Harris County jury found that an ignition switch in a 2007 Saturn Sky did not cause a 2011 crash that killed one person and injured another.
The jury, after deliberating less than an hour, delivered the verdict in a state courtroom Thursday afternoon in Houston.
Zachary Stevens and his parents sued General Motors on the grounds that a faulty ignition switch in Stevens’ Saturn Sky was knocked out of position, cutting off power and causing him to lose control, bouncing off a guardrail and cross a center line to hit another vehicle, killing its driver on FM 1485 at Sullivan Road.
“We asked the jury to evaluate Zach Stevens’ case on the facts and they did,” GM said in a statement. “What happened was simple and tragic: This was a high-speed side-impact crash on a wet road caused by an extremely reckless young man who tried to pass cars on the right shoulder and lost control.”
The Stevens’ lawsuit was one of several ignition-switch “bellwether” cases brought by people who either rejected or chose not to pursue settlements through a special compensation fund.
Administrators of that fund eventually awarded about $595 million to families of 124 people who died in accidents caused by the defective ignition switches and about 275 surviving victims who sustained significant injuries.
Separately, GM paid $900 million in 2015 to settle a federal criminal investigation of the defective ignition switch crisis, and settled about 1,380 pending civil lawsuits stemming from a record number of vehicle recalls in 2014.
NOVEMBER 15, 2013
111513 DPS TALKS ABOUT FM 1485 FATAL CRASH FRIDAY
Just before 7 a.m. Friday morning Stacie Milholen, 43 of New Caney was taking her 16-year-old and 6 –year-old daughter to school. They had left their home in Peach Creek in their 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe. Kasey Milholen, was celebrating her sixth birthday today.
They turned west on FM 1485 at Forest. As they approached Roadway Drive a white van pulled out of the Valero Station and into the eastbound lanes of traffic. Jacob Holcombe was eastbound in his 1994 Dodge pickup. The van pulled out in front of him forcing him to take evasive action. Holcombe went to the ditch, passing the white van as Holcombe fought to get control of his vehicle. He then went back up onto the roadway in front of the van and traveled into the westbound lanes of FM 1485.
Milholen had no time to brake as she slammed into the side of Holcombe’s truck.
The white van then went around the scene and sped off eastbound on FM 1485.
Milholen died on impact, her 16-year-old daughter knew something was wrong as she couldn’t get her to wake up. Milhlen’s husband was notified of the crash and arrived before emergency vehicles, cradling his daughters in his arms trying to keep them calm.
Sixteen-year-old Haylie Milholen was taken to Kingwood Hospital with a broken leg. Her sister is also in stable condition at Kingwood Hospital.
Holcombe was first taken to Hermann Northeast in Humble by MCHD, from there he was flown to Hermann In the Medical Center in critical condition with multiple internal injuries including a ruptured spleen.
Montgomery County Justice of the Peace James Metts responded to the scene and ordered Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to transport Milholen to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office assisted DPS in the investigation.
They are asking for anyone who may have seen the crash or the white van or has any information, to contact DPS New Caney at 281-577-8972.
FM 1485 reopened just before noon.
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
111514 KINGWOOD 5K LANDON RUN MCPR
NOVEMBER 15, 2017
111517 US 59 FATAL CRASH
Just after 11 am MCHD was dispatched to a report of a major accident with a rollover on US 59 northbound just south of FM 1314. Units arrived on the scene and found bystanders performing CPR on a 58-year-old female. A male who had also been in the vehicle was uninjured. According to DPS Sgt. Buress, the Scion was northbound when it left the freeway for unknown reasons and slammed into the guardrail causing it to flip and eject the female. DPS spent most of the afternoon with the assistance of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Unit investigating the crash. They have yet to determine who was the driver of the vehicle. Montgomery County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James Mett’s responded to the scene and ordered Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to transport the victim to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
NOVEMBER 15, 2018
SH 242 AT CRYSTAL CREEK BRIDGE FATAL CRASH
Just before 2 pm, Thursday 911 Operators began receiving calls for a major accident on the River Bridge on SH 242. A short time later the first medic arrived and found an Infiniti Q35 against the concrete wall with heavy damage and the driver pinned in. A second vehicle, a Hyundai Santa Fe had struck the Infiniti. Further down the road on the Crystal Creek bridge, a pickup had been pulling a “Fish Tails” Catering trailer which became detached and struck the Infiniti almost head-on. The driver of the Infiniti was pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of the Santa Fe was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. According to DPS Officials was westbound on the bridge when the catering trailer came loose from the hitch and struck the vehicle. The river bridge was closed for 3-hours as the investigation continued. Montgomery County Precinct 4 Judge James Metts responded to the scene along with Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Elect Jason Dunn. Montgomery County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Trey Spikes also responded as it was discovered that the crash happened on the opposite side of the bridge of Precinct 3 territory. Spikes ordered Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to transport the victim to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for an autopsy. The Montgomery County District Attorneys Vehicular Crimes Unit also responded to the scene. No charges have been filed at this time.
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
111519 LT DESCRIBES END OF A DEADLY SWAT SCENE IN SPRING
On November 15, 2019, at around 12 am the manhunt for Roderick Bowers led Montgomery County SWAT Deputies to an apartment in the Harmony Park Apartment Complex located at 2625 Harmony Park Crossing, Spring 77386. Multiple attempts were made using several different contact numbers for the resident of that particular apartment unit; however, none resulted in contact with the resident. Shortly after 12:30 am, Montgomery County SWAT attempted entry into the apartment to check the welfare of the resident at which time three shots were heard from inside the apartment. SWAT team members set up a perimeter around that particular unit and attempted contact with the occupants with no results. After a brief standoff, entry was made into the residence using a remote robot with a camera at which time two bodies were found deceased inside. At this time, one of the deceased has been presumptively identified as Bowers. The other deceased individual has been identified as a 52-year-old white male resident. The victim’s name will not be released at this time pending notification of next of kin.
The scene was secured and the investigation is being conducted by Detectives with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Homicide/Violent Crimes unit and the Texas Rangers. Judge Beasley, Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace, ordered an autopsy to assist in the investigation. This is an active investigation and additional details will be provided when available.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victim here in Montgomery County as well as the victims in Gulfport Mississippi.
Original Post:
On November 14, 2019, at 6:40 pm the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force, which includes Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy U.S. Marshals and Houston Police Department were tracking a person wanted as a suspect out of Mississippi for multiple felony offenses. Roderick Wayne Bowers is a 52-year-old black male, 6’ tall weighing 195 pounds. He is wanted in connection with Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Domestic Violence, and Homicide in Gulfport Mississippi.
As members of the Task Force attempted to stop Bowers, he fled on foot and pointed a handgun at Task Force Members as he ran into the Harmony Park Apartment Complex where he then eluded police. Multiple units from numerous local agencies converged on the location and set up a perimeter, and canine units are on the scene as the search continues.
Bowers was last seen wearing blue jeans, a dark hoodie with a black jacket. Bowers is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office using 911 and do not attempt to approach him. UPDATE
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
111519 MEN IN BLACK PURSUE THE STOLEN VEHICLE 50 MILES AND CAPTURE HIM
Precinct 4 attempted to stop a truck on Sand Pit Road in New Caney. The truck which was stolen in Houston fled up 1485 to Oak Grove then back to Us 59. There it continued at speeds of 100 mph. The chase went west on Beltway 8 to JFK then back to Lee Road It came to an end on Bretshire near Parker and Homestead. The male was quickly taken into custody.
NOVEMBER 15, 2020
111520 4-YEAR-OLD DIES IN SPLENDORA ATV ACCIDENT
At 7 pm Montgomery County dispatchers received a call for a rescue and entrapment at the Creekside ATV Park on I-69 in Splendora. Units arrived on the scene and had a difficult time locating the victims due to the darkness, size, and terrain of the park. They were finally able to locate the ATV on the land behind the park accessible by ATV only. The 4-year-old child was found by deputies trapped under a Polaris Ranger ATV. The Deputy rushed the child to the front of the park where CPR was continued by medics. Medics worked on the child for some time but were unable to save him. According to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Detectives the father, a 9-year-old boy, and a 4-year-old boy were on the ATV when they entered an incline on a ravine. The 9-year-old jumped out as the ATV rolled partially on its side trapping the 4-year-old under it. The father tried to free the boy but was unsuccessful. The Montgomery County District Attorneys’ Office assisted in the investigation. No criminal charges are planned at this time. Splendora Police and EMC Fire also assisted with 4-wheelers. Montgomery County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Jason Dunn responded to the scene for the inquest and ordered Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to transport the boy to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
NOVEMBER 15, 2021
111521 MULTI-VEHICLE ENTRAPMENTS ON I45 NON FATAL
At 6:30 pm a vehicle broke down in the northbound lanes of I -45 near Loop 336. Traffic behind is started to slow. That is when an 18-wheeler at a high speed slammed into the rear of a Toyota Four Runner and Chevrolet pickup. The impact drove the Toyota under another 18-wheeler. The Toyota driver was trapped. The striking 18-wheeler then went to the right lane striking a Ford Escape. The striking 18-wheeler was pinned in the cab. The female in the Chevrolet received minor injuries but was transported to the hospital. The driver of Escape was not injured and the driver of the other 18-wheeler suffered minor injuries. I-45 remains closed and will be until after midnight. The driver of the Toyota is in critical condition.
