Two bicyclists killed when car slams into group
A man accused of fleeing after hitting and killing two bicyclists just before noon Saturday in Waller County has been arrested.
Victor Kevin Tome, 25, was driving north on Buller alongside hundreds of bicyclists training for the MS150 when he allegedly hit and killed 48-year-old Keri Blanchard Guillory.
About 80 yards later, police said he struck and killed 37-year-old Craig R. Tippit. A third bicyclist dived into a ditch to avoid the blue Dodge Sratus. That rider was taken to MemorialHermann Katy Hospital.
Tome fled in his badly damaged car, Department of Public Safety Trooper Erik Burse said.
“He tore the car up,” Burse said.
Several local law enforcement agencies used car parts and tags from Tome’s German Shepherd, who had gotten loose, to help identify him.
Tome, meanwhile, allegedly broke in to a nearby house, where the homeowner persuaded him to turn himself in.
“We’re glad that it ended the way it did and no one else was injured,” Burse said.
Tome faces two charges of leaving the scene of an accident.
“There may be more serious charges coming depending on the evidence,” Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis said.
Julie Guillory, mother-inlaw of Guillory, said her son and daughter-in-law were riding together Saturday, a pastime they enjoyed. Her son, 53-year-old Michael Guillory, narrowly escaped.
“It’s just unbelievable,” she said. “She is just a wonderful spirit, good to everybody, kind to everybody; she didn’t have one flaw, to me.”
The couple recently had bought a home in Cypress. Keri Blanchard grew up in Houston, graduated from high school in Galena Park, attended Louisiana State University and worked in shipping. She had two adult sons and a young grandson and loved to sing, Guillory said.
The cyclists had been participating in the 2017 SpringFest Metric Century, an MS 150 training ride supporting people with disabilities.
“It’s extremely tragic to us when something like this happens and people get hurt,” Waller County Judge Trey Duhon said.