Local authorities are piecing together the circumstances that led to the tragic death of a 77-year-old man who drowned after his vehicle was swept away by fast-moving waters during a flash flood in Houston. The incident occurred on the bridge over White Oak Bayou at 2600 North Main Street, with the call coming in around 3:35 p.m. on Monday.
Early reports from the City of Houston news site indicate that the deceased was driving a silver Toyota Corolla when he hit a curb and attempted to navigate through high water. His vehicle was then, pushed against a wall by the current and subsequently submerged. Responding paramedics rushed the man to a local hospital where he was soon pronounced dead.
While the man's name has not yet been released, pending notification of kin, an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is expected to firmly establish the cause of death. Houston Police Department's Vehicular Crimes Division, including Sergeant P. Lee and Officer C. Song, are actively investigating the incident. The Houston community is reminded of the dangers posed by floodwaters, especially during periods of severe weather when roads can quickly become treacherous, and passage, ill-advised.
