Police say a speeding driver showing signs of intoxication hit the family’s car on Central Expressway before dawn Jan. 1.
DALLAS, Texas — A 7-year-old Dallas boy underwent a below-the-knee amputation after an alleged drunk driver slammed into his family’s car just after 1 a.m. on Jan. 1 along North Central Expressway, flipping the vehicle and throwing the child onto the roadway.
The crash capped the holiday with a medical emergency and a criminal case that is now moving through Dallas County. Police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Michael Lavarius McRae. Investigators say witnesses reported his white Honda Civic weaving through lanes at high speed before impact. The family had been northbound after New Year’s Eve celebrations when their car rolled, injuring all inside and gravely wounding the boy, Saeed. Doctors saved his life, but his right leg could not be saved. McRae was arrested and later released on bond as the case proceeds.
According to a Dallas police account, the collision happened moments after 1 a.m. on Jan. 1 on the Central Expressway. The family of four—two parents, a daughter, and 7-year-old Saeed—was struck by a Honda Civic that witnesses said sped for several miles while drifting between lanes. The family’s vehicle rolled. Saeed, seated in the back, was ejected and found about 60 feet away, bleeding heavily. Good Samaritans stopped and rendered aid until first responders arrived. “When I saw him on the ground, I thought that I would lose him,” his mother, Ruksara Abbasova, said. “God gave him back.”
Officials said Saeed’s leg was amputated below the knee because of the severity of the trauma. Police booked McRae on intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury, failure to maintain financial responsibility, and resisting arrest. Officers said he showed signs of intoxication and that witnesses described dangerous driving before the crash. The rest of the family remained in the car during the rollover and were treated for injuries that were not detailed by police. Investigators did not immediately release a blood alcohol concentration or a final crash reconstruction report. The specific speed at impact remains under review.
The collision comes amid a yearly rise in holiday-period impaired driving enforcement across North Texas. Central Expressway, one of Dallas’ busiest highways, has seen major holiday crashes in prior years, according to long-standing police briefings and regional safety campaigns. In this case, the family had just left New Year’s festivities and was traveling north. Saeed turned 8 a few days later while still in the hospital, his mother said. She added that he remembers the crash and has asked for a therapy dog to help with the long recovery that now includes rehabilitation and future prosthetics planning.
Court records show McRae is out on bond while prosecutors review the case for potential additional charges. Intoxication assault is a felony in Texas when serious bodily injury is involved. Police said their investigation will include medical records, vehicle data, and interviews with motorists who saw the Honda before the crash. No court date was announced on Sunday. Hospital staff continue to monitor Saeed, and his family is arranging for rehabilitation once he is stable enough to transfer. Any civil insurance matters will be addressed later because officers cited the driver for failing to maintain financial responsibility.
Neighbors and drivers who stopped described a chaotic scene in the travel lanes in the early morning darkness. Traffic briefly halted while paramedics worked beside the overturned vehicle. “Everyone needs to think about other people too, because you can change the life of the child, the family, for everyone,” Abbasova said. The family said they are focused on Saeed’s pain control, wound care, and the first steps of physical therapy. The driver did not make a public statement. Police did not report additional arrests.
As of Monday morning, Saeed remained hospitalized in Dallas, and the case file was still open with Dallas police and county prosecutors. Officials said further updates will come when lab results and crash analyses are complete in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated January 19, 2026.