A young boy was killed Friday evening in a big rig accident on Highway 290, near the Grand Parkway/Mason Road that involved an 18-wheeler and two other vehicles.
The driver of the 18-wheeler admitted that he had been texting when he rammed into a Kia at full speed. The big rig was pulling a Bobcat-type tractor, and Standifer said skid marks were several hundred feet long
Inside the Kia, a 9 year-old boy in the backseat was killed, with his mother and sister in the front also suffering injuries. The victim’s mother and sister were transported by LifeFlight to the hospital.
The impact caused a chain reaction that involving two other vehicles. DPS said the Kia that took the initial hit from the 18-wheeler was stopped in traffic, and had no way of evading the crash.
The impact also pushed the Kia forward, hitting a Toyota Camry and a Ford F-150. The driver of the Camry was taken to a hospital. Her condition was not available late Friday. The driver of a Ford was taken to the hospital with leg pain.
“It’s a damn mess,” said DPS Trooper Richard Standifar. “The back seat and the back trunk area is pushed up to back of the driver and passenger seat.”
Due to the incident, US 290 was closed past midnight.
The crash, which was in Harris County, is normally investigated by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Accident Team. However, Friday has been one of the deadliest nights in recent memory, with 10 people losing their lives in both Harris and Montgomery County. When this crash was dispatched, Harris County Sheriff’s Office was already involved in the investigation of four other fatal crashes. Montgomery County DPS Troopers were called in to assist Harris County DPS Troopers in this crash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FihUByv_L0o&feature=youtu.be
Texas does have laws for texting and driving
Should have made it identical to the statute outlawing rape. Been years since someone’s been raped ’round here. hasn’t it?
Ok, wait, I am confused? It says that a 9 y/o boy, was killed, several others injured, driver admits to texting while driving the rig, but I what I don’t see is the driver in handcuffs. Last time I checked, Involuntary Manslaughter was still a crime, felony in nature, why does he only appear to be getting a ticket? Why is there no picture of him in cuffs or in the back of the squad car? Are you serious?
Texas does have laws for texting and driving. It’s a $2,750 fine. I do believe it’s only class A license holders. I drive 18 wheelers locally. I cannot believe this guy was texting. So avoidable. RIP little man….
Different states have texting laws for cars and pickups, but the ban on texting in commercial vehicles is nation wide. Commercial drivers are required to use hands free devices for phones, and no texting at all. Any time you see a truck driver holding a phone to his ear, he is risking a $2500 fine and a 60 day suspension of his CDL, the same for texting. The driver’s company can be fined up to $11,000 per offense if they have knowingly allowed this. Any time I call my company, the first thing they ask is if I am moving, and if so if I am “hands free”,
Just because its not illegal doesnt make it a good idea
Most states have laws against texting and driving. Not Texas–wonder how these people who make our laws would feel if it were their 9-yr-old child who was killed because someone was texting? Maybe, just maybe then, they’d decided that there should be laws against texting and driving. I can’t do both and don’t see how others can.
I pray for the family and there loss
Now the trucker to be driving a loaded truck should have his mind on nothing but his driving NOT HIS RAIDO OR CELL PHONE .he has to live with the lives he has taken changed forever.i would like to think that he will never drive a big rig again