Man charged after child struck by car, killed

PHARR — Brandon Adame was arraigned here Saturday on one count of injury to a child after police allege he fatally struck a child with his car Friday afternoon.

Pharr Municipal Court Judge Rodolfo “Rudy” Martinez set bond on the second-degree felony charge at $250,000 and transferred Adame to the custody of Hidalgo County jail. The offense is punishable by up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Adame, 21, who at approximately 1:15 p.m. Friday was driving away from the scene of a dispute at a home in the 500 block of West Albatross Avenue, allegedly struck a 2-year-old child with the vehicle, according to the probable cause affidavit tied to his arrest.

Police have yet to identify the child, who died at a hospital from injuries.

Allegations in the affidavit note that the dispute started after Adame and a friend went to the home Friday in order to purchase illegal drugs. When they arrived, the homeowner and other people at the residence came outside and allegedly assaulted Adame, who was sitting in the car’s passenger seat.

The affidavit alleges that Adame got into the driver’s seat and drove off, at which point he struck and ran over the child.

Adame allegedly fled the scene in his vehicle, but was apprehended by police. Hidalgo County jail records show that Adame has been arrested on multiple possession of a controlled substance charges dating back to 2016. He was most recently arrested in late January and is scheduled to plead to various misdemeanor possession charges at an April 1 hearing, according to court records.