BRENHAM, Texas — One person was killed and 13 others were injured Friday after a man stole an 18-wheeler and crashed it into a Texas DPS office in Brenham, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The DPS office is located off Highway 290 on the southwest side of Brenham.
Texas DPS Sgt. Justin Reese said Clenard Parker, 42, stole the big rig out of Chappell Hill, which is about 15 minutes away from Brenham.
When law enforcement spotted the stolen big rig, they tried to get Parker to stop but he took off, heading westbound on Highway 290. He made a U-turn and started traveling east on the Highway 290 service road before taking a hard right turn and driving right through the front door of the Texas DPS office, Reese said. That's where the waiting area and the driver's license front desks are.
At one point, Parker drove the big rig out of the DPS office and had intentions of crashing through the building again, but he was quickly taken out of the driver's seat by law enforcement and put in handcuffs, Reese said. He's in the custody of the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
"I want to say thanks to our first responders," said Atwood Kenjura, the mayor of Brenham. "Had it not been for their quick action...the suspect was backing the vehicle up with the intent of going into it again. Our fire chief mentioned that if he had veered a little bit to the left the second time, there would have been a collapse of that building, which would have resulted in a lot more injuries and possible deaths."
The impact of the crash caused all 14 people inside the building to be hurt. Three of them were flown to the hospital where one of them died. Three others were taken by ambulances but have since been released. Eight people were treated on scene and released, Reese said.
The suspect was not injured.
Reese said Parker had gone to the Texas DPS office in Brenham the day before the crash to try to renew his Commercial Driver's License.
"While he was there, the driver's license staff advised Parker that he was not eligible to renew his commercial driver's license," Reese said.
This is a criminal investigation that the Texas Rangers are leading.
Parker is facing multiple felony offenses. The KHOU 11 Investigates Team has learned that he has had several previous arrests but no violent criminal cases tied to him.
According to a family member, Parker has one son who does not live with him.
Watch the latest update from Texas DPS in the video below: