Houston
AI Assisted Icon
Published on February 27, 2024
Teen Driver Killed, Three Passengers Injured on Katy Freeway in Houston CollisionSource: Google Street View

A tragic incident unfolded on the Katy Freeway in Houston on Monday, claiming the life of a teenage boy and leaving three girls hospitalized. The Houston Police Department reported that the crash occurred around 1:05 p.m. at the 5900 block of the freeway. A white Ford Ranger pickup truck, which was stopped on the freeway lanes due to an item that had fallen from the vehicle, was rear-ended by a white Ford Transit 350 Van, according to cityofhouston.news.

The as-of-yet unnamed 16-year-old male behind the wheel of the pickup was rushed to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries. Surviving the crash, but requiring prompt medical attention, three juvenile female passengers, all 16, were transported to hospitals and are reported to be in stable condition. The Houston police stated that the truck had stopped due to an item falling and was struck as the driver had exited the vehicle to retrieve it.

Authorities, including HPD Vehicular Crimes Division Sergeant L. Le and Officer C. Vargas, are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. The driver of the van, who remained at the scene following the crash, was determined to not be impaired at the time of the incident.

While the HPD's preliminary inquiry indicates that the van struck the pickup as they were gearing up to drive away, no charges have been pressed pending the investigation’s outcome. The identities of the involved parties have not been released, pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. As the community reels from this heartbreaking event, officials have urged any witnesses with additional information to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.