KINGWOOD, TX ā A devastating crash on Sunday evening has left a Kingwood community in mourning after a beloved couple, Curtis Van Diest, 60, and Catherine Van Diest, 66, were killed in a violent collision. The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of West Lake Houston Parkway near Magnolia Cove Drive, according to Houston police.
Authorities say John Nathan Dool, 40, has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter following the fatal crash. Investigators determined that Dool was impaired at the time of the collision.
The couple was traveling northbound in a Cadillac SUV and had come to a full stop at a posted stop sign on Magnolia Cove Drive. As they began to cross West Lake Houston Parkway, Dool, reportedly driving a pickup truck at a high rate of speed, struck their vehicle with immense force.
The impact was so powerful it pushed the SUV several feet from the intersection before both vehicles came to restāthe pickup truck ultimately struck a pole and flipped onto its side. Tragically, both Curtis and Catherine Van Diest were pronounced dead at the scene.
Dool was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition and is now facing serious charges as the investigation continues.
Curtis and Catherine were described by friends and neighbors as kind-hearted, community-oriented, and deeply devoted to one another. Their sudden and senseless loss has left a ripple of grief throughout the Kingwood area.
This tragedy underscores the devastating consequences of impaired driving. The Houston Police Department continues to urge drivers to make responsible choices, especially as fatal crashes involving intoxication remain a critical issue across the region.
The community now rallies around the family and loved ones of Curtis and Catherine Van Diest, grieving two lives taken far too soon.
May they rest in peace.
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