Police: Teen Stole Jeep, Killed Family In Pursuit Crash

A teenager accused of killing six members of a Hidalgo County family Monday while fleeing from a Texas DPS trooper in a stolen truck was out on bail for a separate crime at the time of the fatal wreck, state court records show.

Mission Police arrested Hector Ramirez, 18, of Roma, seven days before the crash on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Interim Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez said the teen was trying to cross the Roma-Ciudad Miguel Aleman International Bridge into Mexico in a stolen car on Aug. 5 when customs officers noticed there was no key in the ignition. When they questioned him about it, Ramirez admitted he stole the 2003 Jeep Liberty earlier in the day.

Ramirez was booked into Hidalgo County Jail that day and released the next after posting $35,000 bail, jail records show.

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