A 40-year-old woman was pronounced dead on the scene Wednesday afternoon when her SUV ran under the rear of an 18-wheeler trailer on US 59.
Around 1:30 p.m., 911 call takers began receiving reports of a major accident in the southbound lanes of US 59, just north of FM 1485. MCHD and New Caney Fire Department responded and arrived to find Pasadena resident Kayla Danielle Deerdorff’s 2002 Nissan XTE crammed beneath the big rig’s trailer, crushing the front of the vehicle and pushing the engine and front seat area nearly to the rear section of the vehicle. Deerdorff was deceased inside.
According to DPS, the 18-wheeler was parked on the shoulder, with the female driver’s flashers activated. Investigators say the truck was not inside the marked traffic lane and it was not immediately clear why Deerdorff veered onto the shoulder and struck the 18-wheeler while traveling at a high rate of speed.
The freeway reopened around 6 p.m.
 
