Big rig falls from ramp onto Eastex Freeway

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- On the same day the Texas Department of Transportation was hosting a public meeting on the future of the Highway 59 corridor, the freeway was brought to a halt beneath the North Loop for several hours.

Late Wednesday morning, an 18-wheeler said to be carrying filter equipment destined for an oil production operation careened off the elevated ramp that routes traffic from 59 north to the 610 Loop.

The distance from top to bottom appears to be about 30 feet. The truck cab was torn and bent, the trailer ripped open on impact. Sheets of material hung from the elevated ramp overhead. And yet, at the moment the truck hit the pavement, there were no vehicles in its path. No other cars, and no other drivers were injured, according to first responders.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was seriously injured, according to one witness. He was taken to the hospital. The extent of his injuries unknown.

According to the president of Safe Tow, his company owns the truck and employs the driver. He was on scene with investigators, but did not know the condition of the driver. The truck and the cargo both appear to be a total loss.

TxDOT inspectors were on scene throughout the morning and afternoon, looking for signs of damage to the exit ramp and the freeway. Spokesman Danny Perez said damage to the elevated did not appear to be severe. All the debris on Highway 59 will was removed before the concrete could be checked for damage.

The closure forced drivers off the freeway, sending some through neighborhoods looking for an easy way out. Those were hard to find. The freeway was opened back up around 5:30pm.