Three people, a Houston Police Department officer, a wrecker driver and a motorist, were hurt early Sunday after a suspected DWI driver hit their vehicles on the I-10 Katy Freeway at Beltway 8, according to police. The crash happened around 2:50 a.m., and westbound lanes stayed shut down for several hours while crews worked the scene. Authorities say the suspected driver was taken into custody and the injured were transported to hospitals, and none of the injuries appeared to be life threatening.
What happened
According to ABC13, an HPD officer and a tow-truck driver had pulled over to help a woman who had run out of gas, with four children still in her vehicle. The station reports the officer and the wrecker operator were assisting the family on the shoulder when a blue Honda Accord crashed into the officer's patrol car, injuring the three adults. Eyewitness images from the scene show heavy damage to both the Honda and the patrol unit.
Injuries and arrest
Click2Houston reports the officer was briefly pinned between vehicles, but was later seen walking around the scene and suffered injuries that were described as not life threatening. FOX 26 Houston reported that the officer, the wrecker driver and the woman were all taken to local hospitals, and that the suspected driver was arrested on a DWI charge and taken into custody.
Traffic impact
All westbound main lanes of the Katy Freeway in the area were closed while investigators and cleanup crews worked. ABC13 notes the lanes reopened around 6:50 a.m., after causing significant early morning delays for westbound drivers.
Why it matters
High speed roadside stops are notoriously dangerous for stranded motorists and first responders alike. In January, the Houston Chronicle reported on a separate tow-truck crash on the Katy Freeway that killed the driver of a disabled vehicle, a reminder of how quickly routine assistance calls can turn tragic.
Investigation
The Houston Police Department says the crash is still under investigation and has not released the names of anyone involved, FOX 26 Houston reported. Officials have not yet said whether any additional charges, beyond the reported DWI arrest, could be filed.
