Author Archive

Car accident on FM 2920 leaves two drivers in critical condition

A Toyota 4Runner SUV and a Ford Escape collided early Tuesday morning on FM 2920 and Meadow Hill. Precinct Four deputies told Channel 2 News that one of the vehicles attempted a u-turn when it was struck by the other. Both drivers were trapped in their vehicles and when freed were taken by life flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann. An injured passenger was taken by ground ambulance. Officials are investigating to see if alcohol played a role in the accident.

18 wheeler accident on Highway 225 in Pasadena claims a life

An as-yet unnamed woman was killed today when her car was struck from behind by an 18-wheeler. The vehicles were on westbound Highway 225 near Preston when, according to media accounts, debris fell from a vehicle in front of the woman causing her to slow down. The 18-wheeler, approaching from behind, did not stop in time and drove partially over the rear of the woman’s vehicle, severely crushing it. Pasadena Police Department spokesman Vance Mitchell said the accident was under investigation and no decision has been made yet whether charges will be filed.

Dioxin lawsuit against Waste Management, International Paper and McGinnis Industrial

In 2011 Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan sued three companies for dumping toxic paper waste into the San Jacinto River. Those companies are Waste Management, International Paper and McGinnis Industrial Maintenance Corporation. The County’s factual claim is that these companies allowed dioxin, a dangerous chemical with documented risk to human health, to leak into a river system where Harris County residents have fished and swam since the 1960s. The County is seeking $2,000,000,000 ($2 billion) in penalties because the three companies failed to disclose the waste and clean it up. Residents of The Highlands have filed a lawsuit of their own; many of these residents are represented by Smith & Hassler.

In 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named the waste pits a Superfund site and took over remediation. Waste Management, International Paper and McGinnis Industrial Maintenance Corporation were ordered by the EPA to place a temporary cap over the waste pits, but the concern the Highlands residents have is that the cap could not withstand a major flood.

Red light runner causes major car accident at Hempstead and 43rd Street

A red light runner caused a major collision last night at the intersection of Hempstead Highway and 43rd Street, injuring two people. Police said one vehicle with a male driver was heading northbound on Hempstead Highway when the driver disregarded a red light at 43rd Street, striking the side of a minivan. The collision was severe enough to flip the minivan over and through it into a ditch, trapping the driver. Fire fighters cut the roof off the minivan to free the lady driver. Both drivers were transported to the hospital and are expected to survive their injures.

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Audi driver killed in car accident on Highway 6

A woman driving an Audi was killed in a car accident last night as she made a left turn from Highway 6 onto Patterson Road, Channel 13 is reporting. The crash happened around 7:00 p.m. when an SUV in oncoming lanes struck the Audi. Both the SUV and the Audi then collided with a third vehicle driven by a pregnant lady. The lady driving the Audi was transported to the hospital but did not survive. Police say the Audi driver had a green light but failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.

Westheimer car accident puts vehicles into flooded ditch

A major car accident this morning involving at least five vehicles had emergency responders using the Jaws of Life to rescue a trapped motorist. Channel 2 is reporting that three vehicles were propelled into a ditch that was flooded by this morning’s downpour. Westheimer Parkway near George Bush Park was shut down in both directions while the scene was cleared. No word on injuries, but the accident looks pretty severe based on the damage to the vehicles involved.

Chevron contractor killed in natural gas pipeline incident off Louisiana coast

One contractor was killed and two others were injured while performing maintenance on a natural gas pipeline off the Louisiana coast yesterday. The incident happened around 11:10 a.m. Saturday September 13th; there were a total of four workers on the Chevron Pipe Line Co. platform at the time. Company spokesman Gareth Johnstone told the press he did not know what had caused the incident. The name of the deceased worker has not yet been released. The two injured workers were taken by helicopter to a waiting ambulance but declined to be transported to the emergency room.

Two killed in near head-on crash near Baytown

Police say a Ford pickup truck driven by an adult male was heading northbound on N. Main at a high rate of speed when the vehicle crossed the center line and went into oncoming lanes. Two adults were killed in the accident and a child was injured.

Fatal car accident when pickup hits construction truck on Katy Freeway

Just after 9:00 p.m. Wednesday September 3rd a man was killed when his gray pickup truck crashed into the rear of a highway construction barricade truck. The westbound lanes of the Katy Freeway were closed for several hours. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. News coverage here.

METRO police officer’s foot run over by alleged drunk driver

A METRO police officer’s foot was run over on Sunday by a DWI suspect. The incident happened on the North Freeway (Interstate 45) at the W. Little York exit. The female officer was directing traffic when a driver traveling over 60 MPH hit a plastic construction barrel. When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, the driver ran over her foot.  A brief chase followed but the driver was quickly stopped and taken into custody.  The man, who was found to be highly intoxicated, has been charged with intoxication assault. The officer was treated at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital and is expected to recover.

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