A former U.S. attorney, Jennifer Lowery, has been charged after a hit-and-run crash in Houston on May 14 that left Gabriel Fonseca shaken and his Nissan Altima badly damaged. The incident on Memorial Drive and the quick actions of witnesses and police led investigators to a vehicle registered to Lowery, and her husband later spoke with officers at the scene. Court papers now list a felony failure to stop and render aid count, and the case has drawn attention because of Lowery’s recent role leading the Southern District of Texas office.

According to court records, Fonseca told police he was driving eastbound on Memorial Drive when a car sitting in the median struck his vehicle on the driver’s side. He described the impact and its immediate aftermath bluntly: “Last second, didn’t have time to swerve, so I just laid down my horn and [she] smacked me right on the driver’s side,” and “After that, I just heard a really loud ringing in my ear, and there was dust everywhere.” Those details match the pattern of a side impact that can leave a driver disoriented even when airbags deploy.

Fonseca said his airbags did deploy and that he managed to move his car to a safer spot before trying to get help. “I remember pulling into the closest parking lot. Somehow, I called 911. I couldn’t open the door, so I crawled out,” he told investigators, describing how stunned and confused he felt in the minutes after the crash. Emergency responders later noted his complaints of ringing in the ears, a common symptom after blunt force to the head or ear area.

He estimated the damage at roughly $35,000 and asked police to pursue charges, saying he wanted accountability for what happened. “She didn’t even check to see if I was dead,” Fonseca said, expressing anger and disbelief that the driver left the scene, and adding, “It’s a selfish and cowardly thing to do—to hit someone and run away without even being concerned.” Those remarks are recorded in court documents and reflect why prosecutors moved to file a felony charge.

A nearby witness who had been walking his dog told officers he watched a heavily damaged car park a few blocks away and saw the driver exit. The witness described the person he saw as a “white, blonde female” in her 30s or 40s, and said the vehicle had “substantial front end damage” and was “leaking fluids.” He also provided police with the location where the car was left, giving investigators a clear lead to follow up on.

When officers checked the address the witness provided, they found a sedan with significant visible damage parked in a driveway, missing its bumper and showing fresh wreckage signs. The license plate on that vehicle was registered to Jennifer Lowery, and police photographed the damage before speaking with residents. Lowery’s husband came outside during that process and identified himself as an attorney, confirming that his wife had been involved in the crash.

Authorities say the husband told officers he would supply the necessary information but would not allow Lowery to give a statement at that time. Investigators proceeded to document the scene and compile the statements from Fonseca and the witness, then referred the matter to prosecutors. The decision to charge a former U.S. attorney with a felony has made the case notable beyond a run-of-the-mill hit-and-run.

Jennifer Lowery served in leadership roles in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of Texas beginning in an acting capacity in February 2021 and was appointed by district judges in April 2022. She led the office until her successor took over in December 2022. That background is part of what has kept attention on the case as it moves through the legal system, though the charges focus squarely on conduct surrounding the May traffic collision.

For Fonseca, the incident left both a physical bill and a desire to see the law enforced: he wants compensation for repairs and criminal accountability for leaving the scene. “It’s quite ironic,” Fonseca said, pointing to Lowery’s former role in holding others to account. Prosecutors will now weigh the evidence and move forward on the alleged felony failure to stop and render aid as the investigation continues in Houston.