SEARCH UNDERWAY IN WALLER CO. AFTER CHASE INVOLVING STOLEN VEHICLE ENDS WITH CRASH INTO LAKE

  

A chase out of Harris County ended early this (Thursday) morning in Waller County after a vehicle reported to be stolen drove into a lake.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, deputies attempted to stop a stolen vehicle at Barker Cypress Road and Highway 290, but the vehicle did not stop, leading to a chase into Waller County.

Members of the Waller County Sheriff’s Office deployed spikes, which caused the vehicle to go off the main lanes of Highway 290 and into a lake north of the highway, near James Muse Parkway.

Gonzalez said the vehicle sunk into the body of water, and whoever was inside did not appear to have made it out.  However, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief John Nanny later said in an update that the sheriff’s office believes the driver was able to exit the vehicle and flee.  It is not known how many people were inside the vehicle when it crashed into the lake. 

The James Muse exit at Highway 290 is closed while investigation and a search are ongoing.  The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team is assisting.