A Baytown police officer has been formally indicted in connection with a crash that killed two young children last October, according to newly released court records. A grand jury returned indictments against Officer Michael Hightower on two counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The crash occurred just after 7 p.m. on October 23 at the intersection of Goose Creek and West Baker Road. At the time, Hightower was on duty and driving a marked Baytown Police Department patrol vehicle, officials said. A van driven by a woman carrying five young children was also involved in the collision, a GoFundMe said.
According to cops, two of the children, ages 8 and 10, were critically injured and airlifted to a hospital, where they later died from their injuries. Authorities have not released details about the condition of the other passengers in the van. Officer Hightower also suffered a leg injury and was transported to a hospital following the crash, according to the police department.
Court documents place responsibility for the collision on Hightower, stating that he was allegedly “traveling at a high rate of speed without his lights or sirens” at the time of the crash. Officials have not confirmed whether the officer was responding to a call or explained why he was reportedly driving at such a speed.
A crash report obtained by ABC13 provided additional insight into the moments leading up to the collision. According to the report, Hightower was traveling on West Baker Road and had a green light at the Goose Creek intersection. The woman driving the van had a blinking yellow arrow and was attempting to turn from Goose Creek onto West Baker.
The report notes that Hightower’s speed significantly affected the driver’s ability to react, contributing to the severity of the crash. Investigators concluded that the rapid approach of the patrol vehicle reduced the time available for the van’s driver to safely complete the turn.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office filed the charges on Friday. Officials said Hightower turned himself in the following Monday. At the time of the indictment, he was on medical leave from the Baytown Police Department, where he had worked for approximately two years.
Court records confirm that Hightower has since posted bond, which was set at $150,000. No trial date has yet been announced.
The case has drawn significant attention in the Baytown community, particularly because it involves the deaths of children and an officer acting in the line of duty. Authorities have not commented on whether additional departmental actions may follow as the legal process continues.
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