Suspected drunk driver Daniel Canada (in mug) was allegedly speeding at 115 mph when he caused a seven-car pile-up that killed a mom and her three young children in Texas
A suspected drunk driver speeding at 115 mph caused a seven-car pile-up that killed a mom and her three young children in Texas.
Porsha Branch, 28, and her three sons King House, 5, Messiah House, 2, and seven-month-old Drake House were killed when Daniel Canada, 35, plowed into the back of their car in Spring, Harris County, March 14.
The family’s car burst into flames with Branch and Drake dead at the scene while the two older boys were airlifted to hospital where they later died.
Canada, who walked away with just bumps and bruises, reportedly had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit.
It has since emerged he was pulled over by cops for speeding just 30 minutes before the crash and was found to be in possession of drugs.
Yet, he was not given a sobriety test, was not taken into custody despite having five open arrest warrants and was free to drive off – allegedly under the influence and reaching speeds of 115 mph just minutes later.
The deadly crash unfolded along the westbound lane on the FM 2920 near Gosling Road around 8:30 pm March 14.
Branch was driving with her three children in the car when they stopped at a light and were struck from behind by Canada’s vehicle, Harris County officials said.
The impact from the crash pushed Branch’s car into the vehicle in front which ultimately led to a seven-car pile-up and caused her vehicle to burst into flames, reported ABC13.
Porsha Branch, 28, and her three sons King House, 5, Messiah House, 2, and seven-month-old Drake House(pictured) were killed when Daniel Canada, 35, plowed into the back of their car in Spring, Harris County, March 14
Branch and her 7-month-old were pronounced dead at the scene while King and Messiah were dragged from the fiery wreck.
King was airlifted to an area hospital but was pronounced dead.
Messiah was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital and placed on life support, but died the next day.
Several other cars caught fire and several other people were injured in the crash.
Canada, meanwhile, was taken to hospital for ‘bumps and bruises’, police said.
He was released last Tuesday and taken straight to Harris County Jail where he is being held without bond.
The family’s car burst into flames with Branch and Drake dead at the scene while the two older boys were airlifted to hospital where they later died. Pictured the crash scene
Canada, who walked away with just bumps and bruises, reportedly had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit
Investigators said Monday that analysis of the black box in the suspect’s car showed he was traveling at 115 mph just two seconds before the crash.
He was also found to have a blood alcohol concentration of .15 percent – almost double the .8 percent limit where you are deemed legally intoxicated in Texas.
Canada has been charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter.
He was originally charged with one count of intoxication assault with serious bodily injury and three counts of intoxication manslaughter but the charges were upgraded when 2-year-old Messiah also died.
If convicted, he faces life in prison.
Questions are now being asked about whether the deadly crash could have been prevented as it was revealed Canada was stopped by a deputy just 30 minutes earlier.
The unidentified Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy had pulled the suspect over just after 8pm after he passed him driving at a high rate of speed, officials said.
A GoFundMe set up to help the victims’ family pay for funeral costs had topped $44,000 Tuesday. The funeral has been arranged for Saturday March 27. Pictured Branch (left) and King (right)
It has since emerged Canada was pulled over by cops for speeding just 30 minutes before the crash and was found to be in possession of drugs. Pictured Messiah (left) and Drake (right)
Damien House (pictured with Drake), Branch’s widower and the father of the three boys killed, paid tribute to his wife and three sons as he hit out at Canada for taking ‘the world’
Canada allegedly admitted to having a small quantity of marijuana in his possession and the drugs were seized.
But the suspect was not issued with a speeding ticket and was not checked for sobriety at the scene because the deputy said Canada showed no outward signs of impairment, the sheriff’s office said.
Canada also has five open warrants for his arrest in Liberty County for: a felon in possession of a firearm, evading in a car, first degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of a criminal instrument and money laundering.
And yet he was also not arrested at the scene.
Instead, Canada left the scene and around half an hour later allegedly caused the crash that claimed four lives.
An investigation has been launched by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to determine whether policies were followed.
The deputy works as a crime scene investigator and did not have a body camera or dash camera on at the time.
As well as the open warrants, Canada has a long rap sheet of drugs charges and was out on parole at the time of the crash for a charge of evading police in east Texas.
Canada in court Monday. Investigators said Monday that analysis of the black box in the suspect’s car showed he was traveling at 115 mph just two seconds before the crash
Despite being pulled over, Canada was not given a sobriety test, was not taken into custody despite having five open arrest warrants and was free to drive off – allegedly under the influence and reaching speeds of 115 mph just minutes later
Damien House, Branch’s widower and the father of the three boys killed, said the couple’s other three children cannot understand why Canada was free to drive on the road.
‘Even my kids are asking, ‘Why didn’t he go to jail before he hit mama?,” House said.
House said the sense of loss still feels ‘unreal’ as he mourns for his wife and children.
‘Honestly, she was kind of a mother to me. She raised me because she made me into the man I am today,’ he told ABC13 about Branch.
He paid tribute to his three sons saying they were ‘smart, respectful, just joyful kids’ as he hit out at Canada for taking ‘the world.’
‘You took the world. You left a lot of pain. You caused a lot of hurt, pain. No more birthdays. It’s a lot that you did. I will never ever in my life forgive you,’ he said.
‘I can’t find the words to describe because it still feels like it’s unreal.’
A GoFundMe set up to help the victims’ family pay for funeral costs had topped $44,000 Tuesday.
The funeral has been arranged for Saturday March 27.
