2 arrested in street racing crash that killed Arlington mom
An 18-year-old and a juvenile have been arrested following a street racing crash that killed a 53-year-old woman in March, police said Thursday.
Adam Hamad, 18, and a boy whose age was not released, were arrested Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force in connection with Tanya Cypert’s death, Arlington police said in a news release.
The two were taken into custody in Arlington without incident. Both face charges of racing on a highway causing death, police said.
Racing at 100 mph led to fatal crash
Cypert was turning left on South Cooper Street on March 6, when Hamand, driving a 2025 Mercedes-Benz, slammed into her 2022 Hyundai Tucson. She was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries, according to police.
Investigators determined through witness reports and surveillance video from a nearby business that the Mercedes and a 2012 Lexus IS, driven by the juvenile, appeared to be racing before the crash, “speeding, weaving in and out of the lanes of traffic without signaling, and revving their engines,” according to the release.
“Data from the Mercedes’ airbag control module showed Hamad was driving in excess of 100 mph when the crash occurred. The posted speed limit along that stretch of S. Cooper Street is 45 mph,” police said.
The juvenile driving the Lexus was not involved in the crash but based on witness statements and surveillance footage investigators determined he was travelling at 85 mph, police said.
Sons mourn loss of Arlington mom
Tanya Cypert had a vibrant social life and a job working in food service at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, her sons Chance and Ethan Cypert said in an interview with the Star-Telegram.
After the crash their mom’s car was not recognizable at the Arlington police impound lot. “The entire front end was gone,” Ethan said. “The engine was sitting next to it.”
Hundreds of people came to her memorial service and shared stories of her life, her sons said. “She touched so many people in the same way,” Chance said. “It’s heartwarming to know how many people she cared about.”
Hamad was booked into the Arlington City Jail, and the juvenile was taken to the Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center, according to police.
Investigators are working to determine if a third vehicle was also racing, police said.