A 42-year-old man, identified as Clenard Parker, is facing a slew of charges after driving an 18-wheel truck into a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) building, resulting in the death of one individual and injuring over a dozen others. According to jail records released on Monday, Parker’s charges include evading arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The incident, which occurred last week, drew attention when Parker intentionally crashed the truck into the DPS building in Brenham, Texas. This act came a day after Parker was reportedly denied a commercial driver’s license at the same office. Judge Mark Keough of Montgomery County emphasized Parker’s deliberate intent in a Facebook post on Friday, stating, “He returned today with intent to harm.”
Authorities revealed that Parker had stolen the truck and was being pursued when the collision transpired around 11 a.m. CT last Friday. Images from the scene depicted the devastating aftermath, with the tractor-trailer’s cab severely damaged and a section of the building’s brick wall demolished.
The Texas Rangers police force, part of the DPS, is leading the investigation into the incident. Alongside the motor vehicle agency, they are working to piece together the events leading up to the crash. The DPS confirmed 13 injuries in addition to the one fatality resulting from the collision.
Parker was apprehended at the scene, uninjured, by law enforcement officers who extracted him from the truck’s cab. As of Monday, it remains unclear whether Parker has legal representation. The severity of the charges and the $2 million bond set for him underscore the gravity of the situation as authorities continue to investigate the tragic event.