Driver charged in death of Fort Bend teen in crosswalk
The driver of a vehicle that fatally struck a 14year-old boy near a Katy school will face criminal charges in his death, authorities said.
Fort Bend Sheriff’s deputies arrested Devin Devalle after the crash Thursday morning near Betty Sue Creech Elementary School on Mason Road. Devalle is being charged with a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian or other vulnerable road user within the area of a crosswalk, a new state law, authorities said.
The teenager lived in the neighborhood and was heading to school, KHOU-TV reported. He was struck about 6:46 a.m. Two people with medical training performed CPR on the teenager before he was pronounced dead.
Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton said the boy’s death marks the county’s second fatal crash involving a pedestrian in two weeks.
Authorities have been at elementary school crosswalks to educate drivers about the law, KHOU reported.
The area had adequate signage to warn drivers about pedestrians, law enforcement officials said.
The flashing lights at the scene, typically triggered by a button, did not seem like they were working Thursday, KPRC-TV said in a report. But Middleton said that did not make a difference in the law because drivers are responsible for looking out for pedestrian safety.
The charge comes after Texas laws tightened on drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians or cyclists.
Devalle would be among the first to be charged under the law, connected to the 2017 death of Lisa Torry Smith, a Fort Bend County mother who was walking her son to school when she was struck and killed by a car. The law ensures stiffer penalties for drivers who seriously injure or kill people crossing the street at a crosswalk.
“This was a child on the way to school,” Middleton said Thursday. “Every part of this was avoidable. He died needlessly. This area was clearly marked, signage everywhere, there were all kinds of warnings. This is very avoidable. Slow down. Keep a proper lookout.”
Deputies said it is unclear whether Delvalle, 20, was distracted while driving.
Fort Bend Sheriff Eric Fagan reiterated Middleton’s admonition to drivers.
“This is a very sad and tragic incident on both sides, for the driver, and especially for the victim’s family,” Fagan said. “Drivers need to slow down and pay attention, and that’s extremely important in areas that are heavily traveled by children.”