Houston police: Chase suspects jump into Buffalo Bayou; 1 dead

HOUSTON - A man's body has been recovered after jumping into Houston’s Buffalo Bayou following a chase early Friday morning, authorities say.

According to the Houston Police Department, another man who jumped into the Bayou is hospitalized in critical condition, and two other men who didn’t jump into the water were taken into custody.

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The incident began around 2 a.m. when officers spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, police say.

Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but police say the suspects instead led them on a chase that lasted about 19 minutes.

Near the 400 block of Jensen Drive, the suspect vehicle went through a parking lot and struck a guardrail leading down to Buffalo Bayou. Police say the four men in the vehicle got out and ran down to the bayou, two of them jumping in.

Authorities search for a man who jumped into Buffalo Bayou early Friday morning.

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One of the men immediately started to ask for help, and officers threw him a rope to get him out, officials say. He was taken to the hospital.

Officers immediately lost sight of the second man in the water and called in additional resources, including the dive team, for help, officials say.

Police say the man’s body was later recovered.

Two other men who decided not to jump into the bayou were taken into custody, police say. One is reportedly facing a charge of felony evading and the other an evading on foot charge.

Police have not released their identities, but police say the three surviving men appear to be 19 to 20 years old and from Fort Worth.