A tragic incident occurred in Baytown on Sunday when a 40-year-old man, Ricardo Rodriguez, caused a single-vehicle crash while driving under the influence, resulting in the death of a 3-year-old toddler, Your Content has learned.
Rodriguez now faces charges of murder, and his bond has been set at $50,000.
During the probable cause court hearing on Monday, court officials revealed that Rodriguez had admitted to consuming multiple alcoholic beverages before the devastating crash.
As part of his bond conditions, Rodriguez is prohibited from operating any motor vehicle, must remain within Harris County, and is not allowed to consume alcohol.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a serious collision in the 4200 block of W. Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Road.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered a GMC Yukon SUV that had collided with a utility pole. Both the man and the child were ejected from the vehicle, according to the HCSO.
Tragically, the 3-year-old child was pronounced dead at the scene, while Rodriguez escaped without any injuries and was subsequently taken into custody.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez commented that although the child was wearing a seat belt, it was not the appropriate restraint, emphasizing the importance of using a car seat.
Records indicate that Rodriguez has a history of legal troubles, having been previously incarcerated in 2020 for violating a protective order and a prior DWI offense.
Additionally, he had previously faced charges of assaulting a family member, according to NBC2.