Suspect arrested in Gulf Fwy wreck that killed 2

HOUSTON Michael Gregory Petty, 28, is charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in the accident at 18900 Gulf Freeway about 12:30pm Monday.

Police say Petty was seen driving a black Toyota pickup truck at a high rate of speed and dodging in and out of traffic. Petty's vehicle struck the back left area of a gold Toyota pickup causing that vehicle's driver to lose control and roll the gold pickup several times before landing in the grassy area to the right of the roadway shoulder.

The front passenger, Manuel Portillo of the gold Toyota was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle. Portillo, 67, was transported by ambulance to Clear Lake Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the gold pickup, Christo Alfonso, 55, was wearing a seatbelt but suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The wreck shut down all southbound lanes of the Gulf Freeway just north of Bay Area Boulevard from the lunch hour until around 6pm. Now Houston TranStar officials are notifying drivers that the Gulf Freeway southbound at El Dorado will be closed for a few more hours on the second day of investigating. Traffic is being diverted onto the feeder from I-45 at El Dorado. The roadway will be closed until about 1pm today. Travelers are encouraged to take an alternate route such as State Highway 3 southbound.

Petty is being held on $60,000 bond.