A 19 year old man accused of racing on a highway and causing the death of his 15 year old passenger faces new charges.  Jose Juan Rodriguez is charged with racing on the highway, causing death. Now, Rodriguez faces four counts of injury to a child for the other passengers in the pick-up. The accident happened early Saturday morning on FM 812 just east of highway 183.

Investigators say Rodriguez was racing another vehicle when he swerved into oncoming traffic and ended up in a ditch. According to police reports, the teens were leaving Club Imperial. A witness told officers she saw a Ford Explorer pick-up and Red Honda car race out of the parking lot onto FM 812 and that they were swerving at each other. Then the pickup suddenly spun out of control, crossed the road and rolled over into the ditch. All six passengers, between the ages of 11 and 16, were not wearing seatbelts.

Brenda Salazar, 15, was killed in the crash.

Another 13 year old passenger, who was riding in the bed of the pick up underwent surgery on Saturday and was last reported in stable condition.

Frank Selvera lives just down the road from Club Imperial.

“I feel bad. It’s bad, but it shouldn’t have happened,” said Selvera. “The driver should have been paying attention to who he had in the car.”

Club Imperial owners told KXAN that the club gets packed on Friday nights when they allow teens to come in with their families, but that some of the teens get out of control once they leave the club.

DPS officials say at this point it doesn’t appear alcohol was a factor in the accident, but it’s still under investigation.

Rodriguez is in jail on a one million dollar bond.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

If you are injured in an automobile accident you need an experienced attorney.

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