A South African rugby star died in a car accident in Texas on Friday when a teenager crashed into his car while fleeing a traffic stop, local authorities said.
Pedrie Wannenburg, 41, was in his car with his wife Evette and their daughter Isabelle and son Francois at the time of the collision when cops tried to pull over the 16-year-old driver outside of Houston, according to Harris’ county sheriff’s office.
Wannenburg’s 8-year-old son was flown to a hospital in critical condition. His wife and 10-year-old daughter were not injured.
The driver collided with three vehicles, and a fourth that failed to stop in time also collided with the scene, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. According to the local fire department, a total of six people were hospitalized.
“One of our units was attempting a traffic stop on Greenhouse Rd & Little York when the vehicle fled. The suspect vehicle then collided with two other vehicles,” Gonzalez said in one statement on Twitter.
Gonzalez identified the crash’s sole fatality as Wannenberg and said his wife and 10-year-old daughter were not injured in the crash.
Suspect Ali Alabadi has been hit with multiple vehicle charges by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Cy-Fair Fire Department/Facebook
Pedrie Wannenburg was driving with his wife and two children before the fatal car accident.Pedrie En Evette Wannenburg/Face
Pedrie Wannenburg’s wife was not injured in the fatal accident.Pedrie En Evette Wannenburg/Face
It is not known where Pedrie Wannenburg was driving with his family before the incident happened. JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images
His 8-year-old son remains in critical condition with “minor life-threatening injuries,” Gonzalez said.
The 16-year-old suspect was identified as Ali Alabadi. He was traveling at 100 miles per hour at the moment of the crash, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The sheriff’s deputy who was chasing Alabadi after a 5:45 p.m. traffic stop is “still speaking with the DA’s office” about the circumstances of the pursuit, Major Quincey Whitaker of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said, according to the Chronicle.
Six people were hospitalized after several cars collided, the local fire department said. Cy-Fair Fire Department/Facebook
Pedrie Wannenburg had an eventful career with the South African national Ruby team. Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images
The alleged Ali Alabadi was reportedly driving at 100 miles per hour before colliding with several cars. Cy-Fair Fire Department/Facebook
Wannenburg attends the Heineken Cup Final in London May 19, 2012 David Rogers/Getty Images
We are devastated by the death of Vodacom Bulls legend Pedrie Wannenburg.
Our heartfelt condolences go to the Wannenburg family 🕊 pic.twitter.com/ePecg3nSYU
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) April 23, 2022
The teenager was charged with felony murder, reckless aggravated assault with aggravated assault and aggravated assault with aggravated assault, the sheriff’s office said.
Wannenburg played 20 times for Springbok – the South African national Ruby team – between 2002 and 2007 and was on the verge of being selected for South Africa’s world championship team in France.
He later won three titles with the Pretoria team in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
Wannenburg lived in Texas, coached Austin Elite Rugby and was head coach of Rice University Rugby Club.
The scene of the fatal car accident in Houston.Cy-Fair Fire Department/Facebook
One of Pedrie Wannenburg’s sons was critically injured after the collision.Pedrie En Evette Wannenburg/Face
With mail wires