Judge Maggie Jaramillo sentenced Angela Nicole Smith to 15 years in prison on August 28, 2020 for Failure to Stop and Render Aid Resulting in Death. The defendant plead guilty to the crime and requested that the judge determine her sentence after a pre-sentence investigation hearing. The 41-year old Houston woman was charged after striking a pedestrian and leaving the scene in June 2019.
According to Assistant District Attorney Alison Baimbridge, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an auto-pedestrian crash at Bissonnet and Hodges Bend the evening of June 20, 2019. The “T” intersection is in a neighborhood in front of Holley Elementary School and controlled by stop signs. An 8-year-old girl and her four siblings were crossing Bissonnet after visiting the school they were going to attend in the fall. The girl’s older brothers crossed the street ahead of her as she was walking with her two sisters. Angela Smith was traveling eastbound on Bissonnet at a high rate of speed when she ran the stop sign and struck the girl – throwing her into the air approximately 60 feet before landing in the roadway. Smith made no attempt to stop nor call 911. The defendant continued driving and was in another minor crash 20 minutes later. Authorities were able to gather enough information regarding the defendant’s physical description and vehicle description to make an arrest within 24 hours of the offense. Tragically, the young girl died from her injuries two days later at the hospital.
“Drivers in Fort Bend County need to be aware of the roadways they are traveling and especially of pedestrians in residential areas,” said Baimbridge. “This crash was easily preventable and this little girl’s death did not have to happen. If you are in a crash, please stop at the scene and call for help.”
Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton stated, “Vehicular crimes pose a serious, yet avoidable, problem that too often turns deadly. In this instance, a child lost her life.” Middleton further indicated, “The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping our community safe, protecting children, speaking for victims of vehicular crimes, and seeking justice on victims’ behalf.”
Smith was prosecuted in the 400th District Court. Accident Involving Death (Failure to Stop and Render Aid) in this case is a second-degree felony punishable by 2 – 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Smith was probation eligible.
Assistant District Attorneys Alison Baimbridge and Emiliano Fragoso prosecuted the case.