Suspect Charged With Murder After Stolen SUV Causes Deadly Downtown Houston Crash

HOUSTON, TX – Houston police have arrested and charged a man in connection with a fatal crash that occurred early Saturday morning in downtown Houston.

The crash happened around 12:45 a.m. on January 17 at 1000 Travis Street. Investigators say 30-year-old Johnathan Ordonez was driving a white Ford Edge that had been taken during a robbery moments earlier. While traveling northbound at a high rate of speed from the 2700 block of Travis Street, Ordonez struck the rear of a white Kia Soul before colliding with a maroon Toyota Tundra.

The impact caused the Kia Soul to flip onto its roof. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced the driver of the Kia, identified as 37-year-old David Nken Njock, dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota Tundra was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ordonez was also injured in the crash and remains hospitalized. After reviewing the case with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Houston Police charged him with murder in the 228th Criminal District Court. A booking photo is not available at this time.

The investigation was conducted by the Houston Police Department Vehicular Crimes Division.