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What we know about Clenard Parker, the man accused of driving 18-wheeler into Texas DPS office

One person was killed and 13 others were injured after Parker slammed a stolen big rig into the DPS office along Highway 290, officials said.

BRENHAM, Texas — Clenard Parker, 42, is the man accused of stealing a big rig and intentionally crashing it into a Texas DPS office in Brenham on Friday. 

One person was killed in the crash and 13 others were injured. 

KHOU 11 spoke to members of Parker's family who said he was not in his right mind. 

Parker is accused of stealing the truck out of Chappel Hill before leading law enforcement on a chase to Brenham where investigators said he purposely crashed the 18-wheeler through the front door of the Texa DPS office. 

Texas DPS officials said this happened just a day after Parker went to the same office and was told he was not eligible to renew his commercial driver's license.

"And from that, he just couldn't," said Parker's cousin James Edmond. "He was angry that he failed that test, but for whatever reason, he just snapped."

READ: One dead, 13 injured after stolen 18-wheeler crashed into Texas DPS office in Brenham, officials say

We asked several of Parker's family members if he had been violent in the past and they all said no, but they did say he is on medication for serious mental health issues. 

"We have documents that show that he suffered from mental illness and he really needs some help," Edmond said. 

Though he has mental health issues, his family said they never saw this coming. 

"He would never have done something like this," Mika Frazier said. "I just couldn't believe this would be the outcome."

KHOU 11 has learned that Parker does have several previous arrests, though so far, we’ve not uncovered any violent criminal cases he was tied to.

Parker is currently being held in the Washington County jail without bond. So far, he has been charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, evading arrest and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The bonds amount to $2 million.

He is expected to appear before a judge over the weekend. 

Credit: KHOU
An 18-wheeler drove into a Texas DPS office in Brenham, Texas on Friday, April 12.

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