Fort Bend County, Texas – A 27-year-old woman is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say she drove intoxicated on the wrong side of a major highway outside Houston and crashed head-on into a young family of four, killing three people and critically injuring a child.
According to investigators, the devastating crash unfolded in the early morning hours of Saturday along the 11400 block of South Highway 99, a major beltway that loops around the Houston metro area.
Crash Happened in Early Morning Hours
Deputies with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office said the collision occurred at around 2 a.m. while traffic was light.
A family of four — Lizbeth Rodriguez Contreras, 27; Diego Pena Jr., 26; Camila Pena, 5; and a 3-year-old boy — was traveling northbound when a vehicle driven by Majesti Faith Lee, 27, struck them head-on.
Investigators say Lee was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes, putting her directly in the path of oncoming vehicles.
Victims Identified at the Scene
Contreras and her five-year-old daughter Camila Pena were pronounced dead at the scene.
Diego Pena Jr. and the couple’s three-year-old son were rushed by medical helicopter to a nearby hospital. Authorities later confirmed that Diego Pena Jr. died from his injuries, while the young boy remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Lee was also airlifted to a hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said.
Alcohol Determined to Be a Factor
Following the investigation at the crash site, deputies said they determined alcohol was a contributing factor in the collision.
Lee has since been charged with:
- Intoxication manslaughter
- Intoxication assault
She was arrested after her release from the hospital and booked into jail with a bond set at $1,050,000, according to jail records.
Sheriff Calls Crash a “Painful Reminder”
Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan addressed the tragedy in a statement released by the department.
“Our hearts are with the family as they endure an unimaginable loss,” Fagan said. “This tragedy is a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be changed when impaired driving occurs, and why making responsible choices behind the wheel is so critical.”
Family Was Leaving Holiday Gathering
A GoFundMe page established to help the victims’ relatives says the family had been leaving a holiday party when the wrong-way crash occurred.
The fundraiser describes the incident as a “sudden and devastating loss of lives” and notes that the surviving child faces a long and uncertain recovery.
Highway 99 Is a Major Houston Artery
South Highway 99, also known as the Grand Parkway, is one of the most significant roadways serving the greater Houston area, carrying thousands of vehicles daily around the outskirts of the city.
Wrong-way crashes on high-speed highways are among the most deadly types of traffic collisions, often leaving drivers with little time to react.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate how Lee entered the wrong lanes of traffic and whether additional charges could be filed as the case progresses.
Deputies are urging drivers to never get behind the wheel while impaired and to report suspected wrong-way drivers immediately by calling emergency services.
Conclusion
What began as a routine drive home ended in a tragedy that wiped out much of a young family in a matter of seconds. As one child continues to fight for recovery, investigators say the case stands as a stark reminder of the irreversible consequences of impaired driving.
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