Good Samaritan killed in hit-and-run crash while helping driver change tire on I-610, HPD says
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A good Samaritan hit and killed on the I-610 North Loop on Monday night was out on the freeway to help another driver when he was fatally struck in a chain-reaction crash, Houston police said.
The crash investigation blocked all westbound lanes of the North Loop just before Wallisville Road.
Police originally reported the call as a major crash involving two cars at about 7:25 p.m. One person was pronounced dead at the scene.
HPD said the driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe had a flat tire and pulled over on the shoulder near the Wallisville exit. A 42-year-old Good Samaritan in a Dodge Ram pickup stopped to help.
The man parked his pickup in front of the Santa Fe and walked to the back of the vehicle, HPD said.
As he was helping change the tire, an unknown vehicle hit the back of a Toyota Corolla traveling westbound on I-610. The accident sent the Corolla toward the shoulder and into the Santa Fe and pickup driver.
The crash killed the 42-year-old good Samaritan, HPD said. The driver of the Corolla was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the driver who hit the Corolla took off without stopping. A description of the suspect vehicle was not available.
The suspect driver faces felony charges of failure to stop and render aid.
Anyone with information on the identity of the wanted driver is urged to contact the HPD Hit and Run Unit at 713-247-4072 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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