Houston 60-year-old Man Charged With Manslaughter After Fatal Crash Kills 5-Year-Old Girl

HOUSTON — A Houston man has been charged in a crash that killed a 5-year-old girl after authorities say his SUV struck the rear of a tow truck on the Gulf Freeway service road.

Daniel Ruiz, 60, is charged with manslaughter in the 487th Criminal District Court, according to Houston police.

The crash happened about 6:40 p.m. April 16, 2026, at 16700 Gulf Freeway, also known as South Interstate Highway 45.

According to investigators, a marked tow truck driver was traveling southbound on the Gulf Freeway service road and activated emergency lights to assist a stalled vehicle.

Police said a green Toyota 4Runner traveling southbound on the service road then struck the rear of the tow truck after the driver failed to maintain speed.

A 5-year-old female passenger riding in the front seat of the 4Runner suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Her identity has not been released pending notification of family members by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

The investigation remains ongoing.