18-year-old passenger killed in crash when driver rams into stopped vehicle on SW Freeway, HPD says
Police said someone in a Ford Expedition had a flat tire and stopped in a moving lane of traffic before the multi-vehicle wreck.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Investigators are looking into a multi-vehicle crash that left an 18-year-old dead and several others in the hospital Thursday morning.
The wreck, reported at about 6 a.m. on Houston TranStar, blocked several lanes of IH-69 Southwest Freeway southbound at Fountain View Drive. The vehicles and the investigation were finally cleared and the lanes were reopened as of 11:30 a.m.
According to the Houston Police Department, the driver of a white Ford Expedition had a flat tire and stopped in a moving lane of traffic along the freeway. That's when police say a black Kia Sportage hit the back of the Ford, and then a silver BMW 5 Series hit the Kia.
HPD said the Ford driver took off on foot.
Paramedics arrived, and one passenger in the Ford, three people in the Kia, and the driver of the BMW were taken to area hospitals.
An 18-year-old who was a front seat passenger in the Kia was later pronounced dead, police said, adding that everyone else had minor injuries.
Police are asking anyone with information on the driver of the Ford or in this case to contact the HPD Hit and Run Unit at 713-247-4065 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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