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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Family alleges Houston police officer caused fatal auto accident

Lawsuits
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The City of Houston is facing a lawsuit alleging a police officer sped through an intersection without lights or sirens, struck a vehicle and fatally injured its occupant. | F. Muhammad/Pixabay

HOUSTON – The City of Houston is facing a suit alleging a police officer was speeding through an intersection without lights or sirens, struck a vehicle and caused a fatal accident. 

Lawrence Cooper and Dr. Brandi Cooper-Lewis, individually and on behalf of Walter Cooper, filed a complaint Dec. 1 in Harris County District Court against the City of Houston alleging negligence and wrongful death. 

The plaintiffs stated in their complaint that Walter Cooper was traveling on Darien Street on Nov. 21, 2020. They alleged that as Cooper began to slow down to cross the intersection at Ley Road, a Houston Police Department cruiser — without lights or sirens in operation — t-boned the vehicle. 

The plaintiffs claimed Cooper's car was hit with "brunt force" which caused it to "spin out of control" through the intersection and over a curb onto a grassy area near a gas station. Cooper was later pronounced dead due to his injuries. 

The plaintiffs also claimed that witnesses at the scene stated the Houston Police Department cruiser was traveling "at least 80 to 100 miles per hour." The plaintiffs further claimed that the officer failed to activate sirens or signal lights and failed to keep a proper lookout and take evasive action to avoid the collision. 

Harris County District Court case number 2020-76762 

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