Police: Teen driver struck motorcyclist, fled with dying victim in truck bed

MISSION — A teen driver struck a motorcyclist Tuesday afternoon and fled from the scene of the wreck while the victim lay dying in the bed of the teen's truck, police said.

The 17-year-old driver of the truck was eastbound on Farm-to-Market Road 495 in a black Chevrolet pickup when he smashed into an 18-year-old riding a red motorcycle, said Sgt. Jody Tittle with the Mission Police Department. The crash occurred about 1 p.m. near the intersection of FM 495 and Gold Avenue.

The driver of the Chevrolet apparently sped away from the scene, not realizing the impact had sent the motorcyclist flying into the bed of the pickup, Tittle said. The Chevrolet's driver continued east on FM 495 as the motorcyclist lay dying in the back of the truck.

When the pickup's driver approached Holland Avenue, he tried to pass a Lacks Furniture truck on the road's shoulder and clipped the vehicle, Tittle said. The Lacks truck appeared to have sustained only minor damage and its occupants were uninjured.

Shortly after clipping the furniture store's vehicle, the Chevrolet's driver struck a white Ford truck, although Tittle said the details of that collision remained unclear.

"After he hit the (Ford) truck, his vehicle was disabled," the sergeant said. "It was such chaos out there."

The motorcyclist - after being carried in the back of the truck about one city block - was rushed to McAllen Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Tittle said. Several other people were rushed to the hospital as well, including the driver of the white Ford truck. They were in stable condition Tuesday.

The teenage suspect was also rushed to the hospital, where he was in stable condition.

Craig Verley, a spokesman for the Mission school district, said the motorcyclist was a 2009 graduate of Mission High School.

Officials refused to identify the teen until his next of kin are notified.

An attempt late Tuesday to ascertain what criminal charges, if any, are pending against the suspect was unsuccessful.

____

Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.