A theft of an 18-wheeler vehicle caused a collision with a local Department of Public Safety (DPS) office in Brenham, Texas, which resulted in over a dozen injuries and one fatality. The collision occurred on Friday at approximately 11 a.m., during a pursuit at high speed that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was involved in.
A day prior, Clenard Parker, the truck’s driver, aged 42, had visited the identical DPS office, where his application to renew his commercial driver’s license was denied on the grounds of ineligibility. Although the motives for Parker’s actions are unknown, he was arrested promptly at the scene after the collision.
The collision resulted in substantial damage to the DPS facility, renowned for its provision of motor vehicle and driver’s license services to the local populace. Two individuals were airlifted to a hospital in Bryan, one was life-flighted to Memorial Hermann in Houston, three were transported to a local hospital in Brenham, and eight were treated and released at the scene, where emergency response teams were fast to arrive.
Parker, who has been convicted of criminal trespass, arson, and possession of prohibited weapons since 1999, is expected to appear in court on multiple offenses in connection with this incident. In the aftermath of the collision, the DPS office was rendered inoperable. Persons who had scheduled appointments were recommended to locate alternate sources of driver’s license services.
Local and state officials, including Texas state Senator Lois Kolkhorst, have expressed concern regarding the evident deliberateness of this incident and its potential repercussions on public safety. The investigation into this catastrophic incident, which has brought to light the dangers confronted by law enforcement and public service providers, is being led by the Texas Rangers.