Archive for June, 2012

Two 18-wheelers crash on Highway 149 in Pinehurst – driver injured

FOX News is reporting a major accident on State Highway 149 in Pinehurst, Texas involving two 18-wheeler trucks. The highway was shut down in both directions near Millhouse Road in southwest Montgomery County as crews worked to clear the wreckage.  The accident was reported around 9:00am this morning. A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety told FOX that an 18-wheeler lost a load of large timber logs, then another big-rig heading in the opposite direction crashed into the logs, causing that big-rig to leave the highway and crash, injuring the driver. That injured driver was transported via life flight to the hospital in unknown condition. The trailer carrying the logs lost its rear axle and wheels, and the other truck that struck the logs sustained heavy damage to the cab and cargo areas, spilling its cardboard box cargo onto the highway.

Hopefully the driver of the 18-wheeler that left the roadway is going to be okay.  If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, do not risk damaging your claim by going it alone. Smith & Hassler’s experienced personal injury attorneys can be reached 24/7.

The driver of this 18-wheeler was life flighted after colliding with a load of spilled logs

An 18-wheeler lost its load of timber logs on State Highway 149 near Pinehurst

An 18-wheeler heavily damaged by a collision with the timber logs

Bellfort and Scott car accident send 8 to hospital

According to a Channel 13 News report, an SUV driver who was allegedly speeding away from the scene of an accident caused a chain reaction collision that sent a total of 8 people to the hospital. One of those injured was a 10-year old. The accident happened at around 10:30pm on Bellfort at Scott Street on the west side of Houston. According to witnesses, the driver of an SUV was speeding away from a different car accident when he crashed into two cars waiting at a red light and also bumped a third vehicle. The SUV flipped over and the cars he hit were pushed into the intersection. Firefighters had to cut into the SUV to rescue the alleged hit-and-run driver. A total of 8 people were transported to the hospital, one of them in critical condition. According to police it did not appear the SUV driver was drunk or under the influence.

Smith & Hassler’s personal injury attorneys have accumulated a wealth of experience in handling all manner of motor vehicles accident over the firm’s 23-year history. Contact Smith & Hassler for a no-charge consultation.

FM 1960 crash kills speeding driver and injures 3 women

Police say a man was speeding with his headlights off last night immediately before he rear-ended an SUV at FM 1960 and Mills Road in northwest Houston. A DPS Officer spotted the man and before the officer could catch up to him, the man’s car rear-ended an SUV stopped at a red light. Three women in the SUV were transported to the hospital in serious condition. The driver who rear-ended them was life-flighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital Texas Medical Center where he died. Channel 2’s story is here. Smith & Hassler’s Houston personal injury attorneys have helped thousands of injured people recover their damages from insurers of negligent drivers. Click here to contact Smith & Hassler for a free case evaluation.

3 women in an SUV were injured when this car rear-ended them on FM 1960. The driver of the car died.

Oil tanker truck crash on Sam Houston Tollway – 3-year old boy dies

A three-year old boy was killed Friday afternoon in a rear-end accident on the Sam Houston Tollway when his father’s car was rear-ended by a commercial tanker truck. The accident happened at around 2:30pm on the southbound lanes of the West Sam Houston Tollway at Central Plaza near West Little York. Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office said the child was in a car heading southbound on the “cash only” lane when the driver of the car changed lanes to get in the “EZ tag” lane. The oil tank truck, traveling behind the red car, struck the car from behind. The three year boy died in the accident and his mother and father were hurt: both were taken to the hospital. The accident closed three main lanes and the shoulder in both directions. According to one media report, authorities were planning further lane closures to conduct an accident reconstruction as part of their investigation.

Mustang driver hits Toyota Tundra head-on

Police are investigating to determine whether drunk driving was a factor in a head-on car accident last night.  At around 11:00pm the driver of a silver-colored Ford Mustang crashed into a vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot.  The driver then fled the scene of that accident, heading westbound on Beverly Hill Street when he crashed head-on into a Toyota Tundra pickup truck at the Fountainview intersection, about a mile from the scene of the accident in the parking lot. The driver of the Mustang attempted to flee but police were able to apprehend him.  Channel 2’s story says the driver of the Toyota Tundra was not seriously hurt, and the driver of the silver Mustang was taken to hospital in stable condition and was to be transported downtown for a blood draw and further questioning.

The driver of this Ford Mustang crashed into a Toyota Tundra head-on, then tried to flee

Montgomery County vol firefighter Nathan Raulz victim of motorcycle accident

Friends, family and colleagues of a very fine young man are mourning his passing after a motorcycle accident Wednesday night.  18-year old Nathan Raulz was riding his motorcycle on Stidham Road near Conroe and apparently attempting to pass an SUV when a collision occurred.  For the past three years Nathan had been a volunteer firefighter with Central Montgomery County Fire-Rescue Station 171 (formerly River Plantation Fire Department). Nathan had graduated from Conroe High School last Saturday and had plans to serve his country in Afghanistan with U.S. Army, and then wanted to return home and become a professional firefighter and EMT. According to Channel 11’s article, the accident happened when the SUV made an unexpected left turn.  The cause of the accident is under investigation, though media reports indicate no charges are expected.

Nathan’s nickname to his firefighter colleague was “Ragoo” and Nathan was named the department’s Junior Member of the Year in 2011.  Fire-Rescue Chief John Farthing spoke in glowing terms of Nathan’s service to the department, telling the Houston Chronicle: “He was the kind of kid any parent would want. He was responsible, respectful, good academically and willing to do anything he could to help anyone in need. He was always early for training and always stayed late to make sure everything was done when training was finished. There will not be another Nathan Raulz any time soon.” A message has been posted to the fire department’s Facebook page regarding Nathan’s passing.

FOX News’ story is here. Channel 13’s story is here. The Houston Chronicle’s story is here.

Volunteer firefighter Nathan 'Ragoo' Raulz

A message posted to Central-Montgomery Fire Rescue's Facebook page

Nathan's motorcycle collided with an SUV near Conroe

Pizza delivery driver and minivan crash sends 4 to hospital

car accident last night between a Dominos Pizza delivery driver and a minivan injured several people, including a child. Two adults and a child in the minivan were taken to hospital, the Dominos driver was also injured and taken to the hospital. The accident happened at the intersection of the Eastex Freeway and Tidwell Road in northeast Houston. According to Channel 13’s story, the driver of the minivan ran a red light immediately before the crash.

Sometimes after a serious car accident, dealing with the other driver’s insurance company can be almost as painful as the injuries you suffered! Smith & Hassler’s highly qualified personal injury attorneys have handled thousands upon thousands of car accident injury claims over the firm’s 23-year history. If you have been hurt in a car accident and don’t want to risk being given the run-around by an insurance company, contact Smith & Hassler and ask to speak with an attorney.

Stuebner-Airline motorcycle accident seriously injures two

A motorcyclist and his female passenger were seriously injured in a crash last night on Stuebner-Airline and Thora in north Harris County. According to authorities a group of three motorcycles were traveling northbound on Stuebner-Airline when a pickup truck ahead of them that was pulling a trailer loaded with lawn maintenance equipment slowed to make a right turn. The first two motorcycles were able to avoid the trailer but the third motorcycle crashed, throwing the motorcycle and passenger from the bike. According to Channel 13, Sheriff’s deputies at the scene said there is no indication alcohol was a factor in the crash, but they believe the motorcycles may have been speeding. Sergeant S. Wolverton with HCSO said the estimated speed of the motorcycles was 80MPH. The female passenger who was injured underwent surgery overnight.

Smith & Hassler’s highly experienced personal injury attorneys have helped hundreds of injured motorcycle riders recover their damages. Insurance companies can be quick to blame motorcycle riders for an accident, regardless of the facts. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Smith & Hassler and ask to speak directly to an attorney.

A motorcycle crash last night sent two the hospital

18-wheeler accident on Interstate 45 – car stuck under trailer

An accident involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger car shut down Interstate 45 (the North Freeway) at Gulf Bank today.  The accident was just before 1:00pm in the southbound lanes.  Media photographs show a light-colored sedan stuck under the middle of a C.R.England 18-wheeler trailer with major damage to the windshield and roof of the car.  The condition of the driver of the car and the cause of the accident was not reported. Channel 2’s story is here. Channel 11’s story is here. FOX News’ story is here.

Scene of today's 18-wheeler accident on southbound I-45 near Gulf Bank

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Manuel Funez killed by falling steel pipe at Port of Houston

Manuel Funez, described by Channel 11 as a contract worker for Richardson Steel has died in an accident at the Port of Houston. Workers were taking steel pipe from an 18-wheeler trailer at city dock 17, ramp 5, when one of the pipes became dislodged and struck the 18-wheeler driver, Manuel Funez, who was standing near the back of the truck as it was being loaded. Channel 11’s story is here. Channel 2’s story is here. The channel 2 news story states that Mr. Funez was an employee of Lone Star Staffing.

An 18-wheeler driver was killed by falling steel pipe at the Port of Houston today