Coast Guard searching for truck driver who plunged off bridge into river
Texas authorities are looking for the driver of a semi truck who crashed off of a bridge into the San Jacinto River early this morning.
The crash happened around 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 27 in eastern Harris County, Texas, according to a report from the Houston Chronicle.
BREAKING: An 18-wheeler crashed off I-10 into the San Jacinto River near Houston early Thursday morning. I-10 West into is closed and deputies are re-routing drivers. A search is underway for the the driver of the big rig. Investigators say there’s no sign he was able to escape. pic.twitter.com/EFlR4UCH0F
— Fox 4 (@fox4beaumont) June 27, 2019
The crash reportedly began on the I-10 East Freeway over the San Jacinto River when a westbound Chevy Cavalier and a semi truck were involved in a minor crash that sent the Chevy spinning into oncoming traffic. The car became disabled facing the wrong way with no headlights on.
A second semi truck then hit the car. The second truck driver allegedly overcorrected after hitting the car and crashed through the guardrail, falling 20 — 30 feet into the river below, leaving the truck partially submerged.
#UPDATE: Multiple agencies, including the US Coast Guard, are working to recover the driver of the 18-wheeler that plunged into the San Jacinto River. The sheriff says they’ll use a crane to lift the truck out of the water. It’ll be hours before it’s complete. @KPRC2 #kprc2 pic.twitter.com/1z7XHTH7Sl
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) June 27, 2019
The semi truck involved in the initial crash did not stay at the scene.
The occupants of the car were not injured.
Multiple agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are searching for the truck driver. Authorities say that they fear that the truck driver could be dead.
All lanes of the inbound I-10 East Freeway were closed for hours for investigation and clean up of the crash, causing serious traffic backups, but lanes have started to reopen.
Update on East Fwy crash: one westbound (inbound) lane is now open. Appreciate everyone’s patience. #HouNews #HouTraffic
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 27, 2019