Police cruiser plowed into Texas family’s minivan, leaving two young boys dead and their three sisters hospitalized with critical injuries

Crash happened just after 7pm on October 23, involved a police officer who was responding to an emergency call, slammed into the family’s Honda Odyssey carrying five children 

Baytown police officer Michael Hightower, sustained a leg injury, but days later, Ryver Russel, 8, and his brother Jude Russell, 10, passed in hospital

The crash also left the family’s three daughters, aged 16, 14, and 3, with devastating injuries, including multiple fractures and brain bleeding

Baytown Police Dept claim officer Michael Hightower had the right of way at the time and was responding to a ‘persons with a weapon’ emergency when the fatal collision occurred

Police said preliminary evidence including dashcam video and witness statements indicate that officer Hightower ‘had a green light and the right of way in the intersection’

A Baytown Police Dept officer slammed into a minivan conveying six members of the Russel family, [photo], with his cruiser on Oct. 23. The family of Harris County, Texas lost their two boys. The three girls were left with critical injuries

A family from Harris County, Texas, has been torn apart after a police cruiser plowed into their minivan, leaving two young boys dead and their three sisters hospitalized with critical injuries. 
The devastating crash, which happened just after 7pm on October 23, involved a Baytown Police Department officer who was responding to an emergency call.
According to investigators, the collision occurred at an intersection in Baytown east of Houston, when the officer’s patrol unit slammed into the family’s Honda Odyssey carrying all five of their children. 
The impact was so violent that Life Flight helicopters were called in, and police and bystanders performed CPR.
Baytown Police Chief John Stringer called the crash a heartbreaking tragedy.

The collision occurred at the intersection of West Baker Road and Country Club Drive, when the officer’s patrol unit, responding to an emergency call, slammed into the family’s Honda Odyssey ferrying the five children

According to the official version of the incident from Baytown Police Department, officer Michael Hightower had the right of way at the time and was responding to a ‘persons with a weapon’ emergency when the fatal collision occurred.
On Tuesday, October 28th Ryver, 8, and Jude Russell, 10, who had earlier been described as showing ‘no brain activity’ following the crash died in hospital.
Family friend Chelsea Hulett wrote in the GoFundMe page raised for the family, the parents made the decision to donate their boys’ organs because, ‘in knowing the hearts and minds of their beautiful boys, the family made the decision for them to share the gift of life through organ donation.’
The crash also left the boys’ sisters, aged 16, 14, and 3, with devastating injuries, including multiple fractures and brain bleeding. 
The crowd funding write up said the eldest girl remains hospitalized and ‘is still fighting to overcome her injuries,’ while the two younger girls were released this week to recover at home. 

Before tragedy struck last month, the Russel family of Baytown, Texas, with their two boys and three girls took this portrait taken at a water park

As of this week, donors have contributed nearly $62,000 toward the $75,000 goal, to cover medical bills, rehabilitation, and childcare costs for the family. 
Baytown Police said preliminary evidence including dashcam video and witness statements indicated that the officer ‘had a green light and the right of way in the intersection where the crash occurred.’

Killed: Jude Dylan, [photo], 10, died from his injuries a few days ago after being declared ‘brain dead’

Killed: Ryver Hendrix Russel, [photo], 8, died after suffering fatal brain injuries similar to those sustained by his older brother

Chief Stringer emphasized that the department’s Crash Reconstruction Team and the Harris County District Attorney’s Vehicular Crimes Division are investigating the incident.
‘The department’s Traffic Reconstruction Team is investigating in accordance with standard procedures and is cooperating fully to ensure a transparent and factual review of this incident,’ Stringer said. 
‘We ask for patience and objectivity from the community as we gather all information, which may take some time.’
The officer, who sustained a serious leg injury, remains in stable condition.
While investigators say it may take weeks to complete the full reconstruction report, Baytown officials insist that transparency is their priority. The department says all body camera and dashcam footage will be reviewed by independent authorities.