Man sleeping under I-610 Loop killed by hit-and-run driver in southwest Houston, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A homeless man was killed by a hit-and-run driver in southwest Houston overnight, and police are asking for the public's help in finding the person they believe did it.

The deadly crash happened in the 9900 block of South Main at I-610 South Loop West at 12:45 a.m. Monday.

Now, investigators are searching for a red Ford pickup truck that they say should have a lot of front-end damage.

Houston police said a Toyota Highlander was stopped at the light at the intersection of South Main and the Loop when it was rear-ended by the hit-and-run suspect.

After the initial crash, the hit-and-run driver jumped the curb and drove under the o verpass, between the support pillars and the incline, which is where the homeless man was asleep in a sleeping bag.

Police said the driver kept going after running over the man, hitting a tree and a pillar before fleeing eastbound on the I-610 service road.

The man who was hit was taken to the hospital, where he later died, HPD said.

Police said a 50-year-old female passenger in the Toyota also reported an injury, but refused treatment and transport to a hospital.

Investigators were looking for video in the area. There is no description of the suspect driver who failed to stop and render aid.

"It looks like he was in the process of moving. There was some beds, some furniture, a lamp that fell out of the bed of the pickup truck," Sgt. David Rose said. "But in the meantime, if anybody knows of a vehicle involved in a crash around this time -- it's going to have a lot of front-end damage, headlights broken, a lot of the trim is missing, and there's going to be some paint transfer."

The Toyota the driver rear-ended is white, so the paint transfer on the suspect's vehicle should be white.

Anyone with information on the identity of the wanted driver or the red Ford pickup truck with heavy damage is urged to contact the HPD Hit and Run Unit at 713-247-4072 or speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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