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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Alana Danielle Smith of Houston demonstrated |
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noteworthy courage and presence of mind when she intervened to foil |
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a burglary attempt; and |
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WHEREAS, On June 20, 2014, Alana Smith was driving her |
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father, Dr. Kevin Smith, home from the airport, when the two |
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encountered an unfamiliar truck in his driveway; the occupants sped |
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away, suggesting that they had burglarized the house; without |
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hesitation, Ms. Smith made the decision to give chase in order to |
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track the suspects' whereabouts for the police; and |
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WHEREAS, After Ms. Smith followed the vehicle for close to |
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half an hour through neighborhoods and freeways, the suspects |
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suddenly retaliated by shifting their truck into reverse and |
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ramming the car driven by Ms. Smith; the situation went on to |
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escalate even further, as the suspects spun their truck around and |
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struck her vehicle head-on with a force of approximately 60 miles |
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per hour; anticipating the impact, Ms. Smith was able to prevent |
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her car from rolling over as it landed safely in a nearby ditch, |
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while the suspects' truck also lost control and crashed into the |
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same ditch 20 yards away; one suspect fled on foot, and police soon |
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arrived and apprehended the two who remained; the Smiths later |
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recovered their stolen possessions; and |
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WHEREAS, The strong sense of justice that Ms. Smith exhibited |
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that day is also evident in her choice to pursue her studies at |
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South Texas College of Law, where she is currently a first-year law |
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student; Dr. Smith, a Houston-based physician and plastic surgeon, |
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takes great pride in his daughter, whose natural response to an |
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emergency was to stand up for what she believes is right; and |
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WHEREAS, Alana Smith's brave actions helped to apprehend two |
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criminals and to enhance public safety in her community, and she has |
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earned the well-deserved admiration of many people; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Alana Danielle Smith for her quick |
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thinking and composure in a perilous situation and extend to this |
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notable young woman and her family sincere best wishes for the |
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future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |