by Elizabeth RuizA 3-year-old boy is dead and his family remains hospitalized with injuries suffered in a crash involving a drug suspect being chased by a San Antonio Police officer in Southwest Bexar County.
Police Sgt. Javier Salazar told 550 KTSA News the suspect's SUV was loaded with hundreds of pounds of marijuana when it left a ranch on Morin Road Wednesday afternoon.
Undercover officers had the place under surveillance. Salazar says they watched as vehicles would pull up, load up and drive away, each carrying several hundreds of pounds of pot.
"As they were leaving, marked vehicles were stopping those suspects and arresting them," said Salazar.
One of the officers was chasing a suspect on the acccess road of IH 35 near Shepherd Road when he suddenly turned around.
"The suspect actually made a U-turn and came at the officer head-on," said Salazar.
The officer was able to avoid a collision, but the suspect couldn't.
"Before the officer could turn back around to pursue him, the suspect collided with another vehicle," he said.
That vehicle was carrying two adults and four children, who were taken to University Hospital. A three-year-old boy died shortly after arrival. .
The suspect also was transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He's facing federal charges.
