Witnesses saw a dog chasing 12-year-old Zachariah Benjamin and running in front of him, causing the boy to lose control.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office say they are following several leads after a 12-year-old boy died Tuesday night when a vehicle crashed into his bike.
Witnesses saw the driver speed through a stop sign before hitting Zachariah Benjamin late Tuesday on Suburban Road near East Mount Houston in northeast Harris County, HCSO said.
They also saw a dog running behind Zachariah. Investigators said the boy was riding southbound on the sidewalk when the dog suddenly ran at him from a driveway on the east side of the road. The child lost control of his bike after hitting a patch of sand and fell into the street.
At that moment, a northbound black sedan, believed to be a Chrysler 300 between model years 2015 and 2023, sped through a stop sign and struck Zachariah with the front of the vehicle.
Deputies said the driver briefly slowed but did not stop or call 911, instead continuing northbound.
Investigators found pieces of the Chrysler at the scene.
Emergency crews arrived quickly, and CPR was performed, but Zachariah was pronounced dead at 9:57 p.m. by EMS.
Investigators are pleading with the driver to do the right thing and come forward.
“I mean, this is a small child. The right thing to do is turn yourself in. Come tell us your side of the story and just put yourself in the family’s shoes,” HCSO Major Anthony McConnell said. “This is a child, they want closure, they want your assistance, they want to know what you have to say.”
Deputies are asking anyone with information about the suspect or vehicle to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).