On Monday, November 27, 2023, 42-year-old Dan Curtis Fitts was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after being found guilty of Failure to Stop and Render Aid - Death, a 2nd-degree felony. The guilty verdict was reached on October 2, 2023, following a jury trial.
The case stemmed from a motorcycle accident that occurred on June 10, 2020, on Loop 410. Fitts, riding his motorcycle at speeds exceeding 100 mph, collided with a motorcycle driven by 28-year-old Quan Van Bach. The impact caused Van Bach to lose control of his motorcycle.
Instead of stopping to assist the injured victim, Fitts fled the scene. Hours later, he called the 911 non-emergency line to report damages to his motorcycle for insurance purposes. The following day, Fitts falsely claimed to be the victim of a hit and run, again using the non-emergency line.
Despite being aware of the collision and Van Bach's serious injuries, Fitts neither returned to the scene nor sought help. Tragically, Van Bach succumbed to his injuries. When questioned by mutual friends, Fitts justified his actions by expressing reluctance to return or call 911 to avoid arrest for racing on the highway, asserting he wasn't "that stupid."
Fitts' criminal history played a significant role in the sentencing, as he was classified as a repeat offender. He had previously been convicted of Burglary with a Deadly Weapon in New Mexico and faced a federal conviction of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
The sentencing, initially scheduled for the guilty verdict day, was delayed for a pre-sentencing investigation, during which a judge assessed the appropriate punishment for Fitts.
