Suspect killed when drunken driver crashes into patrol car along Westpark Tollway, deputies say

Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies investigate a deadly crash where a sheriff's office patrol car transporting a DWI suspect was hit head-on by another suspected drunk driver Sunday, July 21, 2019. The DWI suspect in the patrol car died en route to the hospital, while all others involved in the crash suffered non-life-threatening injuries. less Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies investigate a deadly crash where a sheriff's office patrol car transporting a DWI suspect was hit head-on by another suspected drunk driver Sunday, July 21, 2019. The DWI ... more Photo: OnSceneTV Photo: OnSceneTV Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Suspect killed when drunken driver crashes into patrol car along Westpark Tollway, deputies say 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

A man arrested on drunken driving charges was killed when another suspected intoxicated driver crashed head-on into a patrol car along the Westpark Tollway late Sunday.

Two Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies were also injured in the crash about 11:30 p.m. along the tollway near Synott. The deputies, 34-year-old C. Drake, a field-training officer, and 36-year-old P. Zelaya, a probationary deputy, were transporting a 42-year-old man charged with DWI to jail in downtown Houston at the time of the crash, according to HCSO Major Mike Lee.

The deputies were eastbound on the tollway when the driver of a white Lexus entered the roadway driving westbound in the eastbound lanes, HCSO Capt. Quincy Whitaker said. That driver was later identified as Patrick M. Njogu, 39.

Whitaker said Njogu crashed head-on into the patrol car, killing the deputies' prisoner, who was seated in the right passenger rear seat.

Njogu was reportedly driving the wrong way for some time before the crash, according to Sean Teare, chief of the Harris County District Attorney's Office Vehicular Crimes Division. Investigators are working with the Harris County Toll Road Authority to collect video surveillance of the main lanes to determine where he started heading the wrong way.

Paramedics rushed the man from inside the patrol car to a nearby hospital, but he died while en route, Whitaker said. Both deputies and the man were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, Whitaker said.

Overnight 2 @HCSOTexas Deputies were injured and a prisoner they were transporting to jail for DWI was killed when the patrol vehicle was hit head on by another drunk driver. The suspect has 3 prior DWI convictions and has been charged with murder. #DontDrinkAndDrive #DWI pic.twitter.com/RHen0s7W1h — Major Mike Lee (@HCSOPatrol) July 22, 2019

Both deputies and Njogu were rushed to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Whitaker said. The driver of the Lexus suffered a broken leg.

Drake, who was driving, suffered broken bones in his foot, bruising and lacerations, according to HCSO. Zelaya suffered a concussion.

Both are in stable condition, according to the sheriff's office.

Teare said Njogu has numerous DWI convictions across several states already and showed signs of being "highly intoxicated" soon after the crash. He will be charged with first-degree felony murder in the passenger's death and could face additional charges, depending on how seriously hurt the deputies were.

The sheriff's office said Njogu has five DWI arrests and three DWI convictions in Missouri and Illinois. He appears to have no criminal history in Harris County or Texas, public records show.

"This is an epidemic on our roadways," Teare said. "Always, intoxicated drivers are unacceptable. We lead the nation every year. The wrong-way drivers are truly inexplicable. We're out here so many nights dealing with things like this. It needs to be a wakeup call for everyone involved, everybody who shares these roads with us."

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message

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