North Richland Hills man killed in front of his home by drunk driver, police say
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - A beloved North Richland Hills grandfather was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Sunday evening.
It happened in a neighborhood west of Rufe Snow Drive and Boulevard 26.
Orange cones mark the spot where 64-year-old Jose Valles was killed by an alleged drunk driver Sunday evening.
Daniela Valles says she was inside her home doing laundry and had just said goodbye to her dad, who was going to get in his vehicle parked on the street.
"All I heard was a big boom," she recalled. "I ran out the door and saw my dad on the ground, and I yelled, ‘Help! Help.’"
Jose had a critical head injury and was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
Jose's vehicle was also sideswiped. A neighbor took a photo of the damaged car.
"He passed away in the room, and they couldn’t do anything about it," Daniela said. "My dad is gone. Just like that. Just a random stranger. A random stranger took my dad away."
North Richland Hills police say the driver who struck the 64-year-old father didn’t stop. Nearby witnesses chased down the suspect, who was eventually taken into custody.
Investigators haven’t identified the driver publicly yet.
Jose Valles (Family Photo)
It’s still unclear how fast the suspect was going. The speed limit in the neighborhood is 30 miles per hour.
Daniela says speeding outside her childhood home has been a common issue.
"We have been having problems with this street for quite a while," she said.
It’s the home where Daniela’s dad raised her and her siblings and was helping raise his grandchildren as well.
"I am just going to miss him. He did everything, and he did everything for me," she said. "I’m really hurt."
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The driver will be booked into the Tarrant County jail.
North Richland Hills police say the driver will be charged with intoxication manslaughter, collision involving death, leaving the scene and failure to render aid.