Rain and speed led to deadly multi-vehicle crash in north Harris County, deputies say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Sheriff's deputies believe speeding and rain contributed to a deadly multi-vehicle crash in north Harris County.

The fiery crash happened just after 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Rankin Road, just east of I-45. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said four vehicles were involved.

Investigators said a Toyota Tacoma was traveling at an unsafe speed for the rain conditions when the driver changed lanes into the left lane.

That's when the driver lost control and began to rotate, deputies said. This caused the Tacoma to enter the oncoming lanes, where a Honda crashed into it. Two other drivers veered off into ditches to avoid the crash, investigators said.

The Tacoma and the Honda became fully engulfed in flames, deputies said. The driver of the Tacoma was trapped in his burning pickup. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Video from the scene showed the charred pickup truck in the aftermath of the fiery crash.

Deputies have not identified the driver who was killed.

The driver of the Honda was taken to the hospital in stable condition, deputies said.