A TEXAS family was left devastated after a Baytown Police Department cruiser crashed into their minivan, killing two young children and seriously injuring their three sisters.
The collision occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on October 23 at an intersection in Baytown, east of Houston.
According to investigators, the officer on duty, identified as Michael Hightower, was responding to a “people with a weapon” emergency.
While driving to the location, his patrol car collided with the family’s Honda Odyssey, in which five children were traveling.
Emergency crews, bystanders and police officers rushed to perform CPR as lifesaving helicopters arrived to transport the victims.
Baytown Police Chief John Stringer described the accident as a heartbreaking tragedy.
“This is a tragedy for everyone involved and affected by this event,” he said.
“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the children and families involved, as well as our officer, the officer’s family and the Baytown officers who responded to the scene.”
Days later, the children’s father, Clint Russell, confirmed that his children, Ryver, eight, and Jude, ten, had “passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love and support of family.”
This was after doctors couldn’t find any “brain activity.”
in the family GoFundMe page, Russell shared a touching tribute to his children.
“Jude was a child full of adventure and wonder. He had an inquiring mind and was hungry to learn about the world around him. He had such a loving and caring soul,” she wrote.
“Ryver was a child of creativity and happiness. He radiated joy and confidence. Ryver was a people person and had a magnetic personality.”
The family also announced their decision to donate the children’s organs, writing that “knowing the hearts and minds of their beautiful children, the family made the decision to share the gift of life through organ donation.”
The boys’ three sisters, ages 16, 14 and 3, also suffered serious injuries, including multiple fractures and brain hemorrhage.
The eldest remains hospitalized and is “fighting to overcome her injuries,” while her younger sisters have been released to recover at home.
Since then, the Baytown community has come together to financially support the Russell family.
So far, donations have exceeded $55,000 to help the family cover medical expenses, rehabilitation and child care.
Baytown Little League has also hosted a fundraiser to help raise money for the family during this difficult time.
“It just hits close to home when it’s so close to the community, and you know these people,” said Lily Sharp of Baytown Little League.
“They are a great family and many people know them and know what they have done for the community.
“It’s shaken everyone up quite a bit.”
Baytown police stated that preliminary evidence, including dash cam footage and witness statements, shows that the officer “had a green light and right of way at the intersection where the accident occurred.”
Chief Stringer said the department’s Accident Reconstruction Team and the Harris County District Attorney’s Vehicular Crimes Division are investigating the incident.
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“We ask for patience and objectivity from the community as we gather all the information, which may take some time,” he added.
Officer Hightower suffered a serious leg injury in the accident.
