Houston Sells Woman's Car for $10 After Denying Crash Claim
The city rejected a compensation request from Kimberly Ezike, whose vehicle was destroyed in a police collision, before auctioning the repairable car for ten dollars.
By Alessia Romano ·
Kimberly Ezike’s vehicle was sold at auction for $10 after the City of Houston denied her claim for damages from a 2024 collision with a police officer. The dispute centers on a car that Ezike described as her home and primary mode of transportation, which was destroyed when an officer struck her from behind on Harwin Drive near Gessner Road on Aug. 26, 2024. The impact pushed her car onto the curb and into an electrical pole, leaving her with a broken leg and other injuries.
Ezike stated that an officer at the scene told her the vehicle was towed for investigative purposes. She sent a claim to the city’s legal department for compensation covering car damage and medical expenses, but records show the request was denied. Disciplinary documents indicate the officer involved was suspended for one day for failing to use caution, suggesting the department acknowledged the officer was in the wrong. Despite this, the city maintained that it was not responsible for the costs.
The situation gained momentum when the city reversed a similar denial for a University of Houston student whose car was damaged by police bullets. Mayor John Whitmire announced a review of all claims following that decision. In an interview on Sept. 24, 2026, Whitmire stated the city was examining approximately 300 claims for special circumstances. He noted that the previous general rule was to declare immunity for such cases.
Since 2024, the city has paid out on an average of one in four property damage or personal injury claims made against the Houston Police Department. The legal department did not explain why specific cases, including Ezike’s, were denied. Ezike argued her case should be included in the current review, noting that her car was listed as repairable in city documents despite being sold for a nominal sum. She emphasized that her vehicle contained her mother’s ashes and other personal belongings.
HPD told 13 Investigates that they notified Ezike the car was being considered abandoned and provided a deadline for pickup. Ezike disputed this, saying she was waiting for permission to retrieve the car and was prepared to pay storage fees. The sale occurred less than two months after the crash, adhering to HPD policy for auctioning abandoned vehicles. City documents confirm Ezike initially objected to the towing.
The city’s legal department is currently reviewing 2,000 claims dating back to July 2023. Officials said the team has not yet reversed any previously denied claims. Regarding Ezike’s specific case, the city cited immunity because the officer was responding to a burglary call. They also noted that the TxDOT crash report stated Ezike saw flashing lights and thought she was being pulled over, which led her to slow down before the officer struck her while she attempted to pull into a parking lot.
Ezike now relies on Metro Lift or taxi services for mobility, a change from her pre-accident independence. She expressed frustration that the city valued her repairable car at only $10. The legal department’s ongoing review aims to identify other special circumstances among the backlog, though no timeline for completing the 2,000-case audit has been provided.
Whitmire’s office did not schedule an interview with the mayor for the report. The city provided written information instead, confirming the scope of the review. The TxDOT report details that the officer hit Ezike before she could fully enter the parking lot. The city’s position remains that the initial denial was based on standard immunity protocols applied to officers on active calls.
