1 dead, several injured after car rams into crowd outside Houston restaurant

KATY, Texas – One woman died and several other people were injured when a driver struck a group of people in the parking lot of a suburban Houston restaurant following a reported fight early Thursday, police said.

Investigators believe the driver, who is about 20 years old, intentionally struck the crowd, Harris County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jason Brown said.

They were gathered outside Pinchy’s Tex-Mex Restaurant in Katy about 1 a.m. when they were struck, authorities said.

One woman, believed to be about 35, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Another person was in serious condition while several others suffered minor injuries, Brown said.

The driver initially fled, but returned to the parking lot, where he was taken into custody, Brown said.

According to KPRC, KSAT’s sister station in Houston, about seven to eight people were arguing before the group was struck.

The fight inside the restaurant had spilled out into the parking lot, Houston TV station KTRK reported.

Investigators were working to determine any relationship between the driver and those who were struck, Brown said.

KPRC reported that authorities are also working to determine if the man was intoxicated.

Neither the driver or woman who was killed have been identified by authorities.

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