In a tragic turn of events, a Texas grand jury has indicted a Baytown police officer following a devastating crash that claimed the lives of two children in October. The officer, Michael Hightower, aged 28, faces serious charges including two counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to reports from KPRC, the incident occurred on October 23. Hightower was allegedly responding to a call around 7 p.m. when he collided with a 2023 Honda Odyssey carrying five children. The vehicle was making a left turn at a blinking yellow arrow when the crash happened.
The indictments indicate that Hightower was driving at an excessive speed, without activating his lights or sirens, despite having a green light. This critical oversight, as noted in the police report, was a primary factor in the crash, as it significantly curtailed the other driver’s ability to react in time.
Tragically, the impact resulted in severe consequences. Hightower, along with 10-year-old Jude Russell and 8-year-old Ryver Russell, the children of a Harris County sheriff’s deputy, were flown to a hospital. Unfortunately, the two boys succumbed to their injuries, as confirmed by KTRK.
Meanwhile, the other occupants of the Odyssey, three girls aged 16, 14, and 3, endured serious injuries. They suffered from fractures, brain bleeds, and other trauma, as detailed in a GoFundMe page set up to support the Russell family during this difficult time.
Three other children in the Odyssey — 16-, 14-, and 3-year-old girls — suffered fractures, brain bleeds, and other injuries, according to a GoFundMe for the Russell family.
Hightower underwent surgery on his leg and is still on medical leave, KTRK said.
The indictment was handed up on Friday, and Hightower turned himself in on Monday and was promptly released on a $150,000 bond.
Baytown police said that Hightower was “cooperating fully with the legal process.”
