A tragic incident unfolded on Friday in Brenham, Texas, as a man deliberately crashed a stolen semi-truck into a Texas Department of Public Safety office. Regrettably, this act resulted in the loss of one life and left more than a dozen individuals injured.
Authorities have confirmed that a suspect is currently in custody and is facing multiple felony charges.
During a press briefing on Friday, Texas DPS Regional Director Gerald Brown expressed his deep sorrow, stating, “This is a tragic day for us.”
Around 10:30 a.m. local time, a stolen 18-wheeler crashed into a Texas DPS driver’s license office, as reported by Brown. The driver of the stolen vehicle was being pursued by authorities when they abruptly turned into the office, making a “hard right turn,” according to Texas DPS Sgt. Justin Ruiz.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 42-year-old Clenard Parker. On Thursday, the office informed him that he was ineligible to renew his commercial driver’s license, according to Ruiz.
In a statement shared on social media, Washington County Judge Mark Keough revealed that the suspect had returned today with the intention to cause harm.
Six individuals were taken to nearby hospitals, sadly, one of them succumbed to their injuries while receiving medical treatment. Additionally, eight victims received on-site medical attention and were subsequently released.
All the victims were inside the building when the crash occurred, and authorities have not yet determined how many of them were civilians.
The Texas DPS office suffered extensive damage, as seen in the footage from the scene.
According to Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura, after the initial crash, the suspect intentionally reversed the vehicle with the intention of crashing into it again.
According to Kenjura, the fire chief revealed that a slight deviation to the left during the second attempt could have resulted in a building collapse, leading to more injuries and potential fatalities.
According to Ruiz, the suspect emerged from the incident unharmed. The precise charges he may be facing have not been disclosed by the authorities.
According to Texas DPS, the Texas Rangers are currently conducting an investigation, and they have confirmed that there is no longer any threat to the community.
