Woman killed, 3-year-old alive after crash in NW Houston; suspect arrested

HOUSTON - A man has been charged in the deadly crash involving a woman and a toddler in northwest Houston on Tuesday morning.

Police say a 42-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene at Clay Road and Sam Houston Toll Road. A 3-year-old boy in the vehicle survived and was not injured.

Manuel Neri Mendoza, 37, was charged with murder for his alleged role in the crash.

Dig deeper:

According to court documents, Neri Mendoza showed signs of intoxication and had two previous convictions for driving while intoxicated.

Records show he is a foreign national from Mexico and is on an ICE hold.

Deadly crash involving child in NW Houston

What we know:

According to Houston Police Department Sergeant Rebecca Dallas with the Vehicular Crimes Division, patrol officers were called out to a crash with a pick-up truck and a small sedan.

A Mitsubishi Mirage, driven by the woman, was sitting at the light next to another vehicle waiting for it to turn green. When it was her turn to go, the woman headed east on Clay Road. That's when, police say, a Chevrolet 2500, believed to be driven by Mendoza, came down Sam Houston Toll Road, ran the red light and hit the vehicle.

Manuel Neri Mendoza mugshot

Police say the Mitsubishi was pushed through the intersection and stopped at a nearby curb.

Mendoza allegedly attempted to leave the scene, but police officers say they found him nearby.

Courtesy of OnScene TV Houston 

Sgt. Dallas says the woman died at the scene. The child was found by police strapped into the backseat of the vehicle. He was taken to an area hospital uninjured.

Police say Mendoza was determined to be impaired. The District Attorney's Office was on scene running their own investigation.

What we don't know:

The identity of the victim has not been released.

It is unknown if the woman was the child's mother.