Official site of Tribune News serving Tomball, Magnolia and Waller

Tomball Police Department personnel are investigating a tragic hit and run traffic collision that resulted in a pedestrian being transported, via Life Flight, to Memorial Herman Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

This morning at approximately 6:30am, a pedestrian (Earl Moore, 55 years of age, a Tomball resident) was walking westbound in the 800 block of James Street, (toward the HEB grocery store – his place of employment), when he was struck from behind by a vehicle also traveling westbound. The force of the impact caused Mr. Moore to be thrown into an open ditch located on the north side of James Street, where he laid unconscious and critically injured until Tomball Police Officer Rick Garza (at approximately 7:00am) passed the location and noticed Mr. Moore lying motionless on the ground.

Officer Garza immediately stopped to provide aid and realized that Mr. Moore had been the victim of a hit and run.

Paramedics from Northwest Emergency Medical Services responded, provided medical aid, and coordinated transportation via Life Flight, to Memorial Herman Hospital.

The suspect is still outstanding, and investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual who was driving what is believed to be a white, Ford sedan.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Jimmy Harral, at (281) 290-1311, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tomball police have arrested a man suspected in an early morning hit and run which seriously injured a pedestrian Oct. 8.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Juan Carlos Romero, 32, of Tomball after evidence led them to a vehicle owned by the man. He was charged with a felony of Failure to Stop and Render Aid.

The events started when a Tomball police officer found Earl Moore, 55, lying in a ditch on James Street. The officer determined that Moore had been hit by a car. He was life flighted to Memorial Hospital where he is still being treated for his injuries.

Detectives pieced together a ford headlight from evidence left behind. After calling in representatives from Ford, it was determined that the vehicle was either a white Ford Ranger or a Ford Explorer.

Detective Harral decided to drive through a nearby apartment complex, Dartford Square Apartments, and found a Ford Explorer with damage that was consistent with debris left at the accident scene.

"I spoke with the defendant's wife who stated that she was a passenger in the vehicle the night of the accident," Harral wrote in the charging documents. "It was learned, through the passenger, that the defendant struck a pedestrian who was walking west on the north side of the roadway."

Romero's vehicle was taken into custody for forensic processing.

Romero was arrested at around 11 p.m. Oct. 17, at his apartment.

He is being held on $5,000 bond.