Woman hospitalized, driver dead after fiery wrong-way crash on East Freeway at Lockwood, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston Police Department said one person is dead and a woman is in the hospital after a wrong-way crash on the East Freeway early Tuesday morning.

According to HPD, the crash occurred just after midnight near Lockwood when a driver in an Acura NSX was traveling the wrong way on I-10.

Police say they were traveling east in the westbound lanes when they drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with a Kia.

The crash caused the Acura to burst into flames. The driver was unable to make it out and died at the scene, HPD said.

The woman, who was driving the Kia, suffered severe injuries and was taken to Ben Taub Hospital.

HPD reports that a TxDOT crew was working on the freeway at the time of the crash and witnessed it.

"One of their police officers and workers saw everything. They observed that the vehicle struck the Kia. That vehicle erupted into car parts and caught on fire," Sgt. David Rose with HPD Vehicular Crimes said.

Police say that, because of the crash's severity, they have not yet identified the driver of the sports car.

They say they do not yet know whether impairment was a factor.

The westbound lanes were closed for the majority of Tuesday morning as crews worked to clear the wreckage. It was reopened just after 6:30 a.m., according to traffic officials.

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