Xochitl Santos, a 43-year-old single mother of four and housekeeper from Houston, Texas, died on December 23, 2025, after a Chevy Cobalt struck her in her own driveway while she stood near her vehicle. The 34-year-old male driver, pursuing his girlfriend in a gold sedan following an argument, ran a stop sign, lost control, and pinned Santos between the cars, resulting in one leg amputated and the other nearly severed at the scene. She succumbed to injuries at the hospital; her death was ruled accidental by the Harris County medical examiner.​
Crash Circumstances
Surveillance footage captured the gold Toyota speeding past Santos’ home on Corder Street around 4:30 p.m., followed seconds later by the Chevy attempting to catch up from a nearby apartment complex dispute. Neighbors heard the impact and called 911; family aided her before paramedics arrived. The driver was detained but released pending investigation, with no charges filed as of late December 2025.​
Victim’s Life and Legacy
Santos supported her family through her cleaning business, earning praise from employer Janella Cordray Armstrong as hardworking, loyal, and kind-hearted, with a playful love for animals like meowing at cats. Her children, described as strong like her, plan to expand the business. Fundraising efforts, including Facebook posts, aid the family shaken by the tragedy.
