Wrong-way driver strikes three vehicles leaving one driver in critical condition. 

A wrong-way driver left three vehicles damaged and closed 820 eastbound for several hours. The crash occurred about 5:15 am Thursday, November 28, 2019, at eastbound 820 near Holiday Ln. A black Chevy Tahoe drove into oncoming eastbound 820 traffic, striking two dark-colored SUV’s and a light-colored sedan. (updated 2046-CK)

The driver of the Chevy Tahoe was transported to the hospital in stable condition. The driver of the light-colored sedan was transported to the hospital in critical condition, and a dog that was in the vehicle died as a result of the crash. A third driver was also transported in stable condition, and the fourth involved vehicle did not receive any major injuries.

Accident Investigators, Crime Scene, and the Drone responded to assist with investigation of the crash scene. (updated 2046-CK) North Tarrant Express and Haltom City helped with the freeway closure, which began at Denton Hwy.

UPDATE 8:46pm 11/28/19 –

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect driver did not enter at Boulevard 26, as initially reported. It is unclear at this time where the suspect driver entered the freeway going the wrong direction.

UPDATE 7:50 pm 11/29/19 –

Noemi Martinez has been charged with Intoxication Manslaughter (second degree felony), however a bond has not been set at this time.

Please see the booking photos below.

The victim, 17 year old Benjamin Castaneda, has passed away.

Carissa Katekaru ||  Media Relations Coordinator  ||  pio@nrhtx.com  ||  817-542-1166

North Richland Hills motorcycle officer involved in crash – received minor injuries – driver that hit officer cited.

North Richland Hills motorcycle Officer R. McCrory, a 25 year veteran with nearly 20 years as a motor officer, is recovering after being struck in the 7700 block of Mary Dr. Just shortly after noon on November 19th, 2019, Officer McCrory was turning in to the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 7700 block of Mary Dr. when he was struck in the left rear side of his motorcycle by a four-door sedan. The sedan driver was cited for failing to yield right of way – leaving private drive. At this time, the sedan driver is not expected to face any additional charges. 

Officer McCrory was released from the hospital with minor injuries. He is expected to make a full recovery.

This particular incident is a good reminder to be alert and cautious when driving and to watch for motorcycles, as well as bicycles.

Carissa Katekaru ||  Media Relations Coordinator || pio@nrhtx.com  ||  817-542-1166

North Richland Hills Police and Fire responded to a head-on, rollover collision just shortly after 9pm on Davis Blvd. near Harwood Rd.

A white minivan was traveling north on Davis at Harwood when a black sedan traveling southbound veered into the northbound lanes for an unknown reason. The impact caused the minivan to rollover. Two people were extricated from the minivan and transported to the hospital with non-critical injuries. The driver of the sedan was also extricated and transported to the hospital in critical condition by ground ambulance.

NRH Police investigating several vehicle burglaries at Five Star Ford North Richland Hills – sixteen known victims at this time.
North Richland Hills Police are investigating multiple vehicle burglaries that took place on Sunday, November 10, 2019, between the hours of 10:00 pm-midnight at Five Star Ford – 6618 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, 76180. The burglaries were reported to dispatch on Tuesday, November 12 by Five Star Ford.
Five Star Ford provided victim information to detectives, who began contacting each victim and working to confirm what items may be missing from their vehicles. The suspect is described as a white male, slender build, dressed in dark clothing and carrying a black backpack. The suspect vehicle is described as a black Cadillac Escalade.
If you have any details regarding this incident or recognize the suspect, contact Detective Mayfield – kmayfield@nrhtx.com or 817-427-7227.

Public Safety Media Relations Coordinator, Carissa Katekaru, is recognized for Leadership in Public Information Management by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

The Public Safety Media Relations Coordinator, Carissa Katekaru, was recently awarded the IACP Leadership in Public Information Management Award. This award recognizes an individual public information officer (PIO) and his or her ability to effectively disseminate information to the public.

Carissa was selected as the PIO in early 2017 and has since addressed the agency’s communication challenges. Through formulating a new and innovative approach to communication, she blended both traditional and social media strategies to share the department’s story. Carissa took several strategic steps to build important traditional and social media networks, building one from the ground up – the social media footprint of both police and fire. Fundamental to this change was presenting information quickly, accurately and in an unbiased and transparent way.

Carissa works to not only keep the community members and media partners informed of active incidents, and public interest stories, but she also strives to show the human side of policing through humor and showcasing officers as real people, doing great things in the community they serve.

She was recently recognized at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Awards Banquet in Chicago and was accompanied by Chief Perdue, Assistant Chief Scott, and Lieutenant Palmer.