.png&w=3840&q=100)
Mom and 1-year-old daughter die after car goes into Texas river, cops say
A woman and her 1-year-old daughter died after Texas officials said she suffered a possible medical emergency and drove her vehicle into a river.
Around 4:45 p.m. April 25, 39-year-old Crystal Njepu was driving a 2020 Kia Telluride in Channelview, according to a news release from the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Njepu was in the vehicle with her three children, 1, 5 and 7 years old, officials said at a news conference streamed by KRIV.
Officials believe at some point Njepu suffered a medical emergency and pulled her vehicle over on the side of the road. Nearby surveillance video showed the car stop and start multiple times, and the kids were seen making some gestures indicating their mom was in distress, officials said.
'Moments later the vehicle accelerated forward into the grassy area and into the water. The vehicle began to sink in a rapid rate and also was taken by the current under the bridge,' officials said in the release.
A witness saw two kids on top of the vehicle and jumped into the San Jacinto River and rescued them, officials said.
'Had that bystander not intervened, this could have had a different spin,' officials said. 'All four could have died.'
However, Njepu and her 1-year-old child were still in the car, according to authorities.
Dive teams pulled her and the toddler out of the river, but both were dead at the scene, officials said.
Channelview is about a 20-mile drive east of Houston.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
20 hours ago
- USA Today
Two sisters, ages 11 and 14, reported missing after leaving Houston-area home
Two sisters, ages 11 and 14, reported missing after leaving Houston-area home Police in the Houston area are searching for two young girls who officials say have been missing since Monday, June 9. According to a Facebook post from the Harris County Sheriff's Office, 14-year-old Victoria Limon and her 11-year-old sister Gabriela Limon were last seen leaving their home on Monday, June 9. Officials said both Victoria and Gabriela were last seen wearing a pink shirt with white shorts; no other information was provided by police. The Harris County Sheriff's Office told USA TODAY on Tuesday afternoon, June 10 that detectives canvassed the area "making inquiries for information on the sisters," but no new leads were found. In the same post, police asked anyone with information on the girls' whereabouts to contact the CSO Missing Persons Unit at 713-274-9270 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477), or by emailing HCSOMissingTipline@ Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Cypress parent speaks out after daughter allegedly bullied and exploited at daycare
The Brief A Cypress mother claims her daughter was bullied and coerced into taking explicit photos at a daycare, leading to an investigation after the images were shared on Snapchat. Attorney Tasha Ricks asserts that KinderCare is responsible for the incident, while KinderCare's internal investigation found no fault with their staff. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the case. CYPRESS, Texas - A Cypress mother is speaking out after discovering her daughter was allegedly bullied and coerced into taking explicit photos at a local daycare. The incident has sparked an investigation, leaving the parent shocked and concerned. What they're saying Tenesha Whitfield, a concerned parent, expressed her dismay after learning that explicit photos of her daughter were being shared and sold on Snapchat. Her daughter, who was 7-years-old at the time, was one of three minors involved, alongside two others aged nine and eleven. "It's disheartening. Disappointing. It also gives me a feeling of disgust that a person would do this, especially with children," Whitfield said. Whitfield explained that investigators found the photos circulating on Snapchat, leading to an active investigation. "Very shocking. I was confused and it made me anxious. I was calm enough to hear what they had to say. I didn't take it very lightly," she added. Whitfield shared her daughter's emotional struggle, saying, "She thought she was the one in the wrong. After thoroughly explaining to her what took place, I had to let her know you were victimized. I feel like my daughter was handpicked because my daughter is very sweet. She's non-confrontational. And she lacks in the self-defense department, so I know she's not going to stir up anything or put herself in a predicament." Attorney Tasha Ricks stated, "As I understand it, there is a pending criminal investigation against the adult who solicited the photos." When asked about accountability, Ricks pointed to KinderCare, saying, "KinderCare because they had full possession of our client's child at the time the incident occurred. They also were the first reporting agency." The other side FOX 26 reached out to KinderCare, which stated that their internal investigation found no fault with their staff regarding the incident. "Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of children in our care. As soon as we were made aware of these concerns in June 2023, we immediately self-reported to state licensing, Child Protective Services, and local law enforcement. We also conducted our own internal investigation. State licensing informed us in July 2023 that their investigation found nothing to support any claims that a lack of supervision led to this incident." What's next The Harris County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the case. The Source FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia spoke with the victim's mother, Tenesha Whitfield, the attorney representing the family, Tasha Ricks, and confirmed with the HCSO that there is an investigation. KinderCare sent FOX 26 a statement.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Driver hits big puddle, then hydroplanes into tree and dies, Texas cops say
A Texas man is dead after his vehicle hydroplaned off road and into a tree, according to police. The fatal crash happened near Katy, a Houston suburb, at about 2 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, the Harris County Sheriff's Office told KPRC. Deputies say the driver of a Dodge Challenger was exiting the Katy Freeway when they drove into a puddle, lost control and swerved into a tree, KRIV reported. The man died in the crash while a female passenger was taken to a hospital in stable condition, deputies told the station. A thunderstorm had hit the Houston area, according to the National Weather Service, which reported heavy rain and foggy conditions. When driving on wet roads, don't try to overcorrect when steering, officials warned, KTRK reported. 'Watch your speed. Make sure you're looking ahead of your vehicle. If you hit a body of water, don't steer. Just keep driving straight through it. Keep on gas, and you'll be OK,' Sgt. B. Bondurant told the outlet. Katy is a roughly 30-mile drive west from downtown Houston.
