SAN ANTONIO -- A man fleeing police with hundreds of pounds of marijuana in his SUV is charged with murder after causing an accident that killed a three-year-old, police said.
Sgt. Javier Salazar said police were conducting a narcotics investigation and surveillance on a "known drug distribution point," and police were watching drug transactions occur. Police were then stopping vehicles in other locations and arresting people for large amounts of narcotics.
The driver of a black Suburban refused to stop, and a police officer in a marked patrol car began to pursue the suspect.
"The suspect turned spun around and attempted to actually ram the patrol car. The patrol car was able to get away," Sgt. Salazar said.
The Suburban was heading southbound along the IH 35 access road near Shepherd Road when he flipped around and tried to head north, Sgt. Salazar said. The Surburban then sideswiped a Volvo with two adults and four children under the age of six inside. AirLife reported taking two people to University Hospital and five others were also transported. One of the passengers, 3-year-old Walter Maspero, died as a result of his injuries.
The suspect driving the Suburban, later identified as 30-year-old David Rodriguez, had hundreds of pounds of marijuana inside, Sgt. Salazar said. Another van was pulled over near a school, and police were searching that vehicle, sources said.
Sources said police and the Bexar County Sheriff's Office were investigating a ranch near Loop 1604 and Morin Road. A tanker truck stored in a shed was used to transport drug bundles to Mexico, sources said.
It's unknown how many people were arrested, but police said they would be facing local and federal charges.
Police said Rodriguez was hospitalized for his injuries but was not seriously hurt. He now faces capital murder charges.
