Archive for August 22nd, 2012

Fatal auto pedestrian accident on Aldine Westfield

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a minivan in Houston last night at around 10:20 p.m. The accident happened on Aldine Westfield Road at Aldine Mail Route Road. A man was walking on the shoulder of the roadway when he was stuck: the minivan driver remained at the scene and spoke to police, and it is not believed alcohol is a factor. Channel 11’s report.

18-wheeler accident on Gulf Freeway ramp in Houston

A fairly spectacular 18-wheeler accident took place in Houston this morning when an 18-wheeler fully loaded with a cargo of plywood went off a ramp on the Gulf Freeway and crashed to the ground below. The accident happened around 10:45 a.m. as the truck was headed toward the eastbound South Loop. Houston police said the trucker was traveling too fast to make a corner, then lost control and tumbled over the side. The 18-wheeler driver, miraculously, escaped with apparently very minor injuries, probably because he was wearing his seatbelt. The truck weighed more than 36 tons and fell about 20 feet: fortunately there was no traffic traveling below at the time. Police said the driver will get a citation for failure to control speed. The trucking company the driver was working for has agreed to pay for the clean-up. Channel 2’s story on the 18-wheeler accident is here. Channel 11’s story is here.