Speeding cop without lights, sirens slams into car full of kids, killing siblings ages 8 and 10 and injuring several others: Police

A Texas constabulary serviceman has been indicted for crashing into a car afloat of kids, sidesplitting 2 and injuring respective others, portion helium was speeding to an exigency telephone without his lights and sirens activated, authorities say.

Baytown constabulary serviceman Michael Hightower, 28, is charged with 2 counts of manslaughter and 1 number of aggravated assault. He turned himself successful to jailhouse connected Monday and was released aft posting $150,000 bond.

According to cops, Hightower was responding soon aft 7 p.m. Oct. 23 to a "persons with a weapon" telephone successful which different serviceman requested assistance. Hightower was going done a greenish airy astatine the intersection erstwhile helium slammed into a Honda Odyssey that was making a left-hand turn, constabulary said. The Odyssey was occupied by a pistillate and 5 kids.

The indictment says Hightower was traveling astatine a "high complaint of speed" without his lights oregon sirens activated. Local ABC affiliate KTRK, citing a constabulary report, reported that adjacent though Hightower had the greenish light, helium was astatine responsibility for the clang owed to his speeding and deficiency of lights and sirens.

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Hightower and 2 of the kids were airlifted to the hospital. Two boys, Jude Russell, 10, and Ryver Russell, 8, were pronounced dormant astatine the hospital. The 3 girls, ages 16, 14 and 3, suffered aggregate fractures, a encephalon bleed and different injuries, a GoFundMe said. The serviceman underwent country connected his leg, and helium remains connected aesculapian leave, according to his agency. He worked for the section for implicit 2 years.

Baytown constabulary said successful a connection that Hightower is "cooperating afloat with the ineligible process."

"This calamity leaves america without words," Chief John Stringer said aft the crash. "Our hearts are dense with sorrow for everyone impacted. As a begetter I consciousness this nonaccomplishment profoundly and my bosom breaks for everyone involved. We widen our sincerest condolences to the household during this heartbreaking time."

Hightower's adjacent tribunal day is scheduled for Jan. 12.

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Jude had a "beautiful and joyous spirit," his obituary said.

"Jude loved memorizing random facts and would often airs profound questions that helium expected answers for," the obituary reads. "He was a lad whose assemblage and caput were ne'er still. Jude enjoyed sportfishing and playing and watching sports. Jude besides had an affinity for harmless mischief and enjoyed pranks."

Ryver had a infectious laughter and an electrical personality, the obituary stated.

"Ryver had an uninhibited imaginativeness that allowed him to make beauteous creation and weave the astir intricate stories. Ryver valued others and cared for those astir him deeply. Ryver was witty and ne'er shied distant from making a sassy remark oregon comeback," it said.