Two 18-year-olds were killed early Saturday when a pickup truck crashed and burst into flames on the I-610 South Loop near Mykawa, according to Houston police. A passerby managed to pull the driver from the burning cab, but the two passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. Eastbound lanes were closed for several hours while crews handled the wreck and removed damaged freeway signage.
Crash Details
As reported by KHOU, the crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. when a white pickup traveling east at a high rate of speed lost control, hit a freeway sign and then caught fire. Police said three people were in the truck, including the driver, whose condition was not immediately known. The two passengers, an 18-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman, died at the scene.
Response And Road Closures
According to Click2Houston, Houston police said the single-vehicle crash occurred on a feeder road and caused enough damage to nearby signage that it forced lengthy eastbound closures along the South Loop. Crews stayed on scene for hours to extinguish the fire, remove the wreckage and secure the area before reopening the lanes.
Passerby Rescue And Investigation
Houston police said a passerby pulled the driver from the burning pickup before first responders arrived. The identities of the two teens killed in the crash have not yet been released. Investigators are working to determine whether alcohol or any other substances were involved. Eastbound lanes on the South Loop were reported back open at 6:42 a.m., though officials cautioned that additional closures could be needed later for more repairs, according to KHOU.
What To Know Now
Houston police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact authorities. Drivers using the South Loop should be prepared for lingering repair work and possible short-term lane closures as crews finish restoring the damaged area.
