One person lost their life and over a dozen individuals sustained injuries when a man deliberately drove a stolen semi-truck into a Texas Department of Public Safety office in Brenham on Friday, according to officials.
Authorities have confirmed that a suspect has been apprehended and is now facing several felony charges.
During a press briefing on Friday, Gerald Brown, the Regional Director of Texas DPS, expressed his grief, stating, “This is a tragic day for us.”
The incident took place at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, when the driver of a stolen 18-wheeler crashed into a Texas DPS driver’s license office, as stated by Brown. The stolen vehicle was being pursued by authorities when the driver suddenly made a sharp right turn, directly into the office, as reported by Texas DPS Sgt. Justin Ruiz.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Clenard Parker, 42, who was informed on Thursday by the office that he was not eligible to renew his commercial driver’s license, according to Ruiz.
According to a statement made on social media by Washington County Judge Mark Keough, the suspect has returned today with the intention to cause harm.
Six individuals were taken to local hospitals, with one person tragically succumbing to their injuries while receiving medical care, as confirmed by Ruiz. In addition, eight victims received immediate treatment at the scene before being discharged.
All the victims were inside the building when the crash occurred. The authorities have stated that it is not yet clear 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 was observed reversing the vehicle “with the intention of striking it again.”
According to Kenjura, the fire chief revealed that had he made a slight adjustment to the left during the second attempt, the building would have collapsed, leading to more injuries and potentially fatalities.
According to Ruiz, the suspect emerged from the incident unharmed. The specific charges he may potentially face have not been disclosed by authorities.
According to Texas DPS, the Texas Rangers are currently conducting an investigation, and the community is not at risk.
