Man charged in fatal hit-and-run

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported a Winnie man was charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash Aug. 12 that killed a man and injured a child.

Tristen Dunnam, 21, of Winnie, was arrested and charged with manslaughter and accident involving death charges. According to a DPS news release, a wreck occurred about 9:35 p.m. in west Jefferson County. DPS reported Dunnam was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado westbound at a “high rate of speed” along State Highway 73, about seven miles east of Winnie.

Dunnam struck the rear of a westbound 1997 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Christian Sykes, 45, of Winnie, causing it to flip several times. Sykes was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by a Jefferson County justice of the peace.

A 5-year-old child in the Suburban was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

Dunnam was picked up by another vehicle and left the scene of the wreck, according to DPS.

DPS added that the investigation into the wreck continues and no additional information was available at press time.