UPDATED Friday, April 25, 2025:
A high-speed pursuit involving a stolen vehicle ended in a rollover crash near Bellville on Thursday evening, April 24, 2025, thanks to coordinated efforts among multiple Austin County law enforcement agencies.
At approximately 5:10 p.m., Wallis Police officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle traveling through their city. The white 2019 Dodge truck had recently been reported stolen in New Braunfels, Texas. Deputies with the Austin County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) later spotted the truck just south of Sealy on Highway 36 and confirmed its stolen status. After multiple agencies moved into position, an ACSO deputy in a marked patrol unit attempted to pull the vehicle over by activating lights and sirens. The driver immediately fled, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. During the chase, deputies observed the driver throwing what appeared to be narcotics out of the vehicle. Near FM 949, the driver also discarded a handgun out the window. While no drugs were recovered, a DPS trooper later retrieved the firearm, which was confirmed stolen out of Austin, Texas.
Deputies successfully deployed spike strips near the Bellville city limits, causing the truck’s tires to deflate. The vehicle lost control, rolled over, and came to a stop near the Bell Oaks Shopping Center. The driver, identified as Eric Tijerina, 17, was taken into custody at the scene. Due to injuries sustained in the crash, Tijerina was transported by Austin County EMS to a hospital in Katy for treatment, accompanied by ACSO deputies. Once released from medical care, he was booked into the Austin County Jail on multiple felony charges, including Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Theft of a Firearm, Evading Arrest, and Tampering with Evidence.
This successful arrest was the result of coordinated teamwork between the Wallis Police Department, Sealy Police Department, San Felipe Police Department, Bellville Police Department, DPS Troopers, Austin County EMS, and Bellville Fire Department. Authorities praised the collaboration between agencies that helped bring a dangerous situation to a safe conclusion.
A high-speed pursuit that began in the Sealy area ended in a dramatic crash just outside Bellville on Tuesday evening. The suspect, driving a stolen white Ram pickup, lost control after authorities successfully deployed spike strips. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its side near a culvert along State Highway 36, directly across from Ranch King Trailers.
Multiple agencies responded to the chase, including local law enforcement and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), working together to bring the situation under control. The suspect was taken into custody at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
