21-year-old among 2 dead in storm-related building collapse in Conroe

CONROE, Texas (KTRK) -- Severe storms sprang up Tuesday afternoon, snapping power lines and tree limbs, and causing a deadly building collapse in Conroe.

The collapse happened at a construction site in Conroe's new Ladera Creek community.

Subcontractors were building a two-story home that has now been flattened. Two men were killed and seven were hurt when it came down.

The collapse happened during a storm that steamrolled its way through the area at about 4 p.m. Relatives told Eyewitness News that the workers noticed the weather was turning bad. They started packing up their tools to leave, but the storm hit hard and fast.

The half-constructed house came down on top of the workers, sending seven to local hospitals. As of Tuesday night, Eyewitness News does not have an update on how they're doing.

Family identified one of the two killed as Brayan Rubi Lopez Aguilar.

"He was a humble kid. He just turned 21. We came to this country for a better life, and see what happened. A tragedy," his father, Jaime Lopez, told ABC13 in Spanish.

Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the builder, Lennar Homes, were also at the scene Tuesday night.

Relatives at Memorial Hermann in The Woodlands confirmed at least three other victims are related. They're all described as hard-working men who were hurt while trying to provide for their families.

Damage elsewhere and after-school hiccup

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough reported storm damage, possibly from a tornado, in the Calvary Road area at about 4 p.m. Residents were being advised to avoid the area and consider any downed power lines as electrified.

In addition, Huntsville ISD transportation told families living in the Forest Hills subdivisions to pick their children up, citing damage preventing bus routes in the afternoon.

About 20 homes in the Forest Hills subdivision suffered damage, according to Butch Davis, Walker County's emergency management coordinator.

There was also another reported roof collapse - this one at Imperial Collision and Mechanical near I-45, where at least one person was hurt.

In Huntsville, a tree appeared to have fallen on top of an apartment at the Timbercrest Townhomes. It was not immediately known if anyone was injured.

ABC13's Lake Conroe camera also captured the moment of a downburst before the device went out.

Additional photos sent to Eyewitness News show downed trees and power poles that were snapped down by the wind speeds of the storm passing through the area.