H.R. No. 865
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Alana Danielle Smith of Houston demonstrated
noteworthy courage and presence of mind when she intervened to foil
a burglary attempt; and
WHEREAS, On June 20, 2014, Alana Smith was driving her
father, Dr. Kevin Smith, home from the airport, when the two
encountered an unfamiliar truck in his driveway; the occupants sped
away, suggesting that they had burglarized the house; without
hesitation, Ms. Smith made the decision to give chase in order to
track the suspects' whereabouts for the police; and
WHEREAS, After Ms. Smith followed the vehicle for close to
half an hour through neighborhoods and freeways, the suspects
suddenly retaliated by shifting their truck into reverse and
ramming the car driven by Ms. Smith; the situation went on to
escalate even further, as the suspects spun their truck around and
struck her vehicle head-on with a force of approximately 60 miles
per hour; anticipating the impact, Ms. Smith was able to prevent
her car from rolling over as it landed safely in a nearby ditch,
while the suspects' truck also lost control and crashed into the
same ditch 20 yards away; one suspect fled on foot, and police soon
arrived and apprehended the two who remained; the Smiths later
recovered their stolen possessions; and
WHEREAS, The strong sense of justice that Ms. Smith exhibited
that day is also evident in her choice to pursue her studies at
South Texas College of Law, where she is currently a first-year law
student; Dr. Smith, a Houston-based physician and plastic surgeon,
takes great pride in his daughter, whose natural response to an
emergency was to stand up for what she believes is right; and
WHEREAS, Alana Smith's brave actions helped to apprehend two
criminals and to enhance public safety in her community, and she has
earned the well-deserved admiration of many people; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend Alana Danielle Smith for her quick
thinking and composure in a perilous situation and extend to this
notable young woman and her family sincere best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Miles
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 865 was adopted by the House on March
12, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House