Commuters on Houston’s 610 East Loop faced a significant delay during Wednesday morning's rush hour due to a fatal auto-pedestrian accident that closed all southbound main lanes near Clinton Drive. The incident occurred around 7:40 a.m., with KHOU reporting that it involved a pedestrian and two vehicles. Traffic camera footage captured the grim scene, showing two 18-wheelers parked on either side of the roadway.
According to ABC13, the accident seemed to have a grim twist; the driver of the 18-wheeler was run over by his own vehicle after exiting to address a mechanical failure. And, while attempting to assist, a witness to the accident was too late to offer any meaningful aid. KHOU stated that first responders were quickly on the scene.
The road remained closed for an extended period as the medical examiner's office, with the assistance of a heavy-duty wrecker, carefully conducted its investigation. Traffic was reportedly impacted until 11:05 a.m., when Houston TranStar announced that all lanes had been reopened.
"The driver pulled to the side of the road to address the issue, and unfortunately, while he was doing so, the vehicle rolled over him," Capt. Donna Crawford of the Houston Police Department told ABC13. Crawford urged drivers experiencing mechanical issues to remain in their vehicles, if possible, and call for professional assistance. She relayed that another motorist witnessed the accident and pulled over to render aid, but it was too late to save the driver of the 18-wheeler, and attempted helplessly to assist.
