Teen killed by suspected drunk driver while changing flat tire

HUMBLE, TX (FOX 26) - A suspected drunk driver is behind bars accused of killing a teenager who was just changing a flat tire.

The crash shut down the Eastex Freeway near FM 1960 for more than 8 hours Sunday.

The victim just celebrated his 17th birthday on Friday. He was excited to be going to a truck show in Pasadena with three other family members, but they never made it.

When his brother's Chevy Pick-Up truck got a flat tire on the Eastex Freeway just before 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning, 17-year-old Jose Damian helped change it in the median of the southbound Townsen exit.

"My brother, my little brother, he went to put the jack under the seat where they go," said the victim's brother Javier Damian who says that's when a silver Dodge Charger -- with a suspected drunk driver behind the wheel, slammed right into his truck... and his little brother.

"When that happened I screamed, I just screamed when I screamed I wasn't even done screaming when the car hit him, it was so quick," he said.

The New Caney High School sophomore was pronounced dead on the scene.

Jose Damian loved trucks. His Facebook page filled with pictures of them as he was eager to attend his first truck show with his two older brothers and sister-in-law, who left early to beat the lines.

"He was really happy he was really happy it was his first time and then this happened," said Javier Damian.

Jose's family quickly gathered at the scene to watch... and wonder why?

"Only God knows why.  He had a lot of friends here I just called one of them right now and told them , they just can't believe it something that happens out of nowhere, quick," he said.

The driver of the Charger was taken to the hospital suffering from minor injuries. Charles Baxter Junior, 32, from Humble has been charged with Intoxication Manslaughter and is in custody. Humble Police say he also was in possession of a controlled substance.