HOUSTON, TX – A series of early morning crashes on the Southwest Freeway has left one person dead and another in critical condition, according to local law enforcement. The incident unfolded shortly after 2 a.m. when a vehicle collided with a barrier, disabling it on the freeway.
The driver of the first car, a man believed to be in his 20s, exited the vehicle and was standing nearby when a second car failed to notice the disabled vehicle and crashed into it. In a frantic attempt to avoid further danger, the young man reportedly jumped off the freeway, only to be discovered later on the ground below by a homeless person who alerted the authorities. He was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
Tragically, the situation escalated when a third vehicle collided with the second car. The driver of the second car, a 40-year-old man, did not survive the impact. The two occupants of the third car were transported to a local hospital but are expected to recover without life-threatening injuries.
Preliminary investigations suggest that impairment may have played a role in the initial crash. Medical personnel at the scene indicated that the driver who first hit the barrier showed signs of being over the legal limit for intoxication. However, no charges have been filed at this time as the investigation is still underway.
Authorities are continuing their probe into the sequence of events that led to this tragic series of crashes. The Southwest Freeway has since reopened, though traffic remains sluggish as the investigation continues.
Police have urged anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward as they work to piece together the full picture of this early morning tragedy.