The Texas department of public safety (DPS) and the Washington County district attorney’s office announced Monday (April 22) the death of a second person after a semi crashed into the Brenham driver’s license office.
DPS social media identified the second fatality as 63 year old Cheryl Turner of Brenham.
A DPS spokesman tells WTAW News that Turner was not an employee and she had been hospitalized in Houston following the crash.
Washington County jail records have been updated to reflect the driver of the semi, Clenard Parker, is being held in lieu of bonds totaling $4,050,000 dollars. Parker is charged with murder, aggravated assault of a public servant, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, and criminal mischief totaling more than $300,000 dollars.
Update April 18, 2024:
The Washington County man arrested after crashing a stolen semi into the Brenham driver’s license office April 12th faces four more criminal charges.
The Texas Rangers has notified the Washington County district attorney’s office that the new charges against Clenard Parker includes murder.
In all, the Chappell Hill man is also jailed on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault of a public servant with a deadly weapon, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, criminal mischief, and unauthorized use of the semi.
The department of public safety (DPS) has not provided an update since last Monday (April 15) on two victims who were hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
11 other people inside the building were treated for their injuries. DPS has not released how many of the casualties were employees and how many were not employees.
As of the afternoon of April 18th, the Washington County jail website has not added the new charges. When Parker was booked, bonds on the original charges totaled $2 million dollars.
Update, April 15, 2024:
The Texas department of public safety (DPS) has released the identity of the person who died after a stolen semi crashed into the Brenham driver’s license office last Friday.
78 year old Bobby Huff, whose hometown was not released by DPS, was among 14 people and one of the undisclosed number of customers who were inside the building.
Two others remain hospitalized in critical condition. DPS has not disclosed the number of employees and customers who were inside.
The driver of the semi is in the Washington County jail in lieu of bonds totaling $2 million dollars. 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill was booked on charges of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
A DPS spokesman says the Brenham Driver License Office will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time. Alternative offices are Bryan, Hempstead, and Caldwell. Customers with scheduled appointments at the Brenham Office will be contacted by the DPS Driver License Division.
Update, April 13, 2024:
The Texas department of public safety (DPS) reports three of the five inside the Brenham driver’s license office who were taken to hospitals after a semi entered the building were treated and released.
As of Saturday morning (April 13), DPS has not released the identify of the person who died or the number of the people inside the building who are customers and how many are employees.
Original story:
One person was killed and 13 were injured after a man in a stolen semi drove into the Brenham driver’s license office building Friday morning (April 12).
Texas department of public safety Sgt. Justin Ruiz says five people were taken to hospitals in Houston, Bryan, and Brenham. Eight others were treated at the scene.
Ruiz said no one inside the building escaped injury, and investigators were determining how many of the 15 people were customers and how many were employees.
The name of the person who died will be released after family members are notified.
The man driving the stolen semi was identified as 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill. He was removed from the semi and taken to the Washington County jail.
Ruiz said a Washington County sheriff’s deputy spotted the stolen semi and started a pursuit that was joined by other law enforcement officers.
The semi jumped the Highway 290 feeder road and entered the building through the door leading into the driver’s license waiting area.
Ruiz said Parker on Thursday (April 11) had been denied a renewal of his commercial driver’s license. The reason was not disclosed.
The Texas Rangers is the lead investigating agency.
Click below to hear comments during the first news conference. Speakers are DPS regional director Gerald Brown, DPS Sgt. Justin Ruiz, state senator Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, and Brenham mayor Atwood Kenjura.