The 17-year-old who was charged after losing control over the vehicle he was driving and killing three valet workers was a valet driver himself, reports ABC13.com. who was in a customer’s car when the tragic incident happened.
The crash transpired at 10:30 p.m. on Friday near Prospect Park Sports Bar and Kitchen in the 3100 block of Fountain View Drive.
According to Houston Police, the suspect, Ahmedal Tayeb Elnouman Modawi, was seen by officers doing donuts – or riding around in tight circles – in a white Infiniti G37 car in a parking lot in the 6300 block of Fairdale Lane. Officers tried to stop him.
Modawi then fled, eventually losing control, went into a ditch, and crashed into three valet workers who were working outside the sports bar. The vehicle flipped and hit an object.
Modawi, who is charged with three counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, was not intoxicated when the incident happened, according to the police.
Victims Identified; Families Are Mourning
The family identified the valet workers as Fnan Measho, 18, Eric Orduna, 22, and Nick Rodriguez.
“My son and these poor other families are mourning just like us because of them,” ABC News quoted Eric’s mother, Rose saying.
“That police chase shouldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t have been like that. So, now we have to bury my son and two other young guys. One of them was my son’s friend. Very good kids, just nice. It just breaks my heart.”
Orduna’s sister, Erica, also expressed that they were not supposed to bury the young victims. “I’ve never felt so much pain in my life.”
Measho’s family said that the former Bellaire High School track start was working to support his family. The 18-year-old victim was also studying Criminology at the University of Houston, aspiring to be a police officer.
On the other hand, no other information was available for Rodriguez but Prospect Park confirmed his identity.
The Measho and Orduna families have set up fundraisers to help the victims have a proper burial and resting place.
Modawi Was In a Customer’s Car With Another Valet Driver
According to sources, Modawi worked as a valet driver at Café Mawal, a restaurant and hookah lounge just across from where the incident happened.
Modawi, together with a 16-year-old valet driver who just started on the job, had a broken leg due to the crash. Both were taken to the hospital.
According to the mother of the injured passenger, her son had three surgeries already and showed photos of her son, Mohammed, who is in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines.
Families Upset Over Not Receiving A Call From The Establishments And Valet Company
The families of Measho and Orduna said they did not want to take part in the vigil that Prospect Park hosted on Monday night. The families are upset that Café Mawal, Prospect Park, and even the valet company did not call them after the crash.
The families also stated that both establishments remained open while their sons were laying and dying on the street.
“They’re sweeping what they did under the rug, never [got] a call,” said Erica Orduna. “These were not animals, and they were humans.”
Prospect Bar announced that the establishment is hosting a balloon release in honor of the victims on October 4, 7 p.m.
Modawi To Be Charged Once He’s Released From the Hospital
Modawi, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, is expected to be charged when released from the hospital.
“One person decided they didn’t want to get a ticket or go to jail,” said Sean Teare, Harris County District Attorney’s Office Chief of Vehicular Crimes.
“We’re talking about three individuals who were just out here working. They were doing their job, coming back from parking cars to get more cars. This one is as egregious as we’ve seen in a very long time as a pursuit or something like that.”
