Posts Tagged ‘Interstate 45’

Pedestrian hit by 18-wheeler on I-45 survives

A man attempting to run across Interstate 45 North last night has miraculously survived being struck by an 18-wheeler. The accident happened just before midnight near Tidwell. Witnesses credit the 18-wheeler driver with attempting to swerve to avoid the crash, and after clipping the man the trucker pulled over and called 911. It is very difficult to gauge the speed of an approaching vehicle and how much time there is to cross a multi-lane roadway during daylight, let alone at night, so while taking a shortcut is tempting it can often prove fatal. The safer play is wait for help, don’t try to cross the freeway.

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Pedestrian hit by big rig on I45

Jaguar and Camaro crash on I-45 North

A Jaguar sedan and a Chevrolet Camaro were involved in a major crash on Interstate 45 North at Ritchey Road early this morning. A third vehicle, an 18-wheeler Dr. Pepper truck, was also involved when the big rig’s trailer was hit in the back by one of the two cars. Both the Jaguar and the Camaro sustained major damage in the accident, particularly the Camaro. The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. and temporarily shut down all of the northbound lanes. The drivers of both cars were transported to the hospital and the truck driver was apparently unhurt.

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The damaged Camaro

MCSO Deputy Robert Layman still hospitalized after being hit by Jeep on I-45

Deputy Robert Layman with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office remains hospitalized after he and a colleague were struck by a vehicle on Interstate 45 North two days ago. Deputy Layman and Sergeant Jack Valenzuela were hit by a Jeep Cherokee SUV Wednesday morning as they walked back to their patrol car, having stopped to assist a motorist whose vehicle became disabled in a travel lane. Sgt. Valenzuela was released from hospital that day, however Deputy Layman suffered serious injuries and will probably be off the job for quite some time. The driver of the Jeep, a 50-year old male, is cooperating with the police investigation of the accident.

The Montgomery County Law Enforcement Association has established a benefit fund to help Deputy Layman and his family with the costs of an extended time in hospital and out of work. Donations can be made at any Woodforest National Bank, and the check should be payable to the “Robert Layman Benefit Fund.” Hopefully Deputy Layman will recover in time to be home with his family for Christmas.

Hopefully the Jeep was covered by a large automobile insurance policy that will compensate Deputy Layman for his injuries and lost time from work. Claims involving serious injury and an extended hospital stay frequently involve dealing with negotiating large health insurance liens, and sometimes liens from short term or long term disability insurers.

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The MCSO cruiser damaged in the wreck

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The wrecked Jeep Cherokee

Street race may have caused wrong way accident on Interstate 45

A man and woman sitting in a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 45 near Airtex in Houston were injured in a major collision early this morning and Harris County deputy sheriffs think street racing may be the cause of the accident. The driver of a full-size white pickup truck with custom rims and lowered suspension was apparently racing a second vehicle, when the pickup stopped on the northbound side of the freeway and turned around, heading into oncoming traffic. The front of the pickup then smashed into a disabled green-colored Chevy Trailblazer SUV on the side of the freeway with a man and woman inside. The second vehicle apparently involved in the race has not been located. Police will investigate to see if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Smith & Hassler helps hundreds of clients resolve automobile accident injury claims each year.  Our firm currently have 29 Google reviews from former clients with an average rating of 4.8/5.

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The victims' Chevy Trailblazer

Motorcycle passenger killed in collision with minivan on Interstate 45

Around 9:00 p.m. Sunday January 12th a motorcycle rear-ended a minivan on Interstate 45 at Edgebrook in southeast Houston.  A woman riding on the back of the motorcycle was killed in the crash. Channel 2’s report is here. Houston Chronicle story here. The Chronicle’s article identifies the motorcycle as a Harley Davidson, and states that the minivan changed lanes to enter the freeway when the motorcycle, reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, struck the rear of the van. Neither the motorcycle driver nor the passenger were wearing crash helmets. The police investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.

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METRO bus hits and kills man on Interstate 45 in Houston

A man died Sunday afternoon on Interstate 45 North near Main Street in Houston when struck by a METRO bus as he stood near his car after a previous accident. METRO officials say that shortly before 1:00 p.m. a car had stopped on the freeway with a flat tire, which caused a four vehicle collision. The METRO bus swerved  to avoid the accident but hit the man who had gotten out of his car. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Four people were transported to St. Joseph’s with non life threatening injuries: including a bus passenger who was treated for cuts to his face. Channel 2’s story is here and tells the facts somewhat differently: that the man’s vehicle stalled in the center lane of traffic and he was hit by the METRO bus and at least four other vehicles as he walked down the freeway. The Chronicle’s story is here.

Wrong way driver causes multi-vehicle accident on North Freeway

Drunk driving is suspected to be the cause of two more wrong-way accidents in the Houston area last night, coming hot on the heels of two deadly wrong-way accidents last week, one on June 29th and one on July 1st.
The first accident was on the North Freeway (I-45) near Tidwell Drive. Police say the driver of a brown-colored Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck got on Interstate 45 heading northbound in the southbound lanes. A Houston police officer in a marked patrol unit attempted to avoid a head-on collision with the wrong-way driver and crashed into the concrete median. The crash caused a chain reaction collision that involved a total of five cars.
The wrong-way driver was stopped one exit later and placed under arrest: police say he appeared to be driving drunk but blood alcohol tests will make that determination. This is now the third wrong-way accident on Interstate 45 in the past couple of weeks. Fortunately, unlike the two prior occasions, nobody lost their life in this accident.
Update: a Channel 13 report has identified the alleged drunk-driver responsible for the wrong-way accident as 33-year old Martin Hernandez. This is Hernandez’ second drunk driving charge. He has been charged with a felony offense, in addition to DWI.
The second wrong-way accident last night happened on Highway 225 and Richey Road in Pasadena, shortly after 12:45 a.m. Police say a man was traveling the wrong way when he struck the back of an 18-wheeler causing the big-rig’s rear axle to be knocked off the truck and injuring the driver. The pickup truck driver was life flighted to hospital in serious condition. Channel 2’s report is here. Channel 13’s report is here.

HPD car wrecked in the wrong-way accident last night on the North Freeway near Tidwell

The patrol car sustained major damage after colliding with the concrete median

This blue Ford Mustang was involved in the chain reaction crash

If you or a family member have been injured by a drunk driver‘s selfish choices, Smith & Hassler is a Houston personal injury law firm that will aggressively pursue compensation for your damages.

Wrong way accident on Interstate 45 near Conroe kills 2

Interstate 45 at FM 1488 was shut down this morning after a double fatality wrong way accident. The DPS has confirmed that at least two people died in the crash which happened around 2:45am in the Conroe area. Investigators told Channel 13 News that a female driver in a pickup truck entered I-45 at Tamina Road heading the wrong way, north in the southbound lanes. A witness called 911 to report the driver and Shenandoah Police were on their way to intervene but could not get there in time to prevent the head-on accident. The pickup truck struck a car occupied by three teenagers, killing the car’s driver and front seat passenger and injuring the third teen in the back seat. The wrong-way driver was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, and so far has not been charged for the wreck. I-45 between Conroe and The Woodlands was expected to be shut down for some time. The Houston Chronicle’s story is here.

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

Premiere Houston personal injury firm Smith & Hassler has the knowledge, experience and resources to take on large trucking companies, their insurance companies and their attorneys.  If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler truck accident, call any time day or night for a free, confidential review of your case.