OCTOBER 16, 2006
CUT AND SHOOT WATER RESCUE
OCTOBER 16, 2006
COCO PUPS AND PATCH
OCTOBER 16, 2009
TRIPLE FATAL CRASH IN CONROE-FM 1314 AND LOOP 336
October 16, 2009
CONROE – A major accident in Conroe around 10:15 a.m. has left three people dead. The crash occurred at FM 1314 and S. Loop 336. A Mazda sedan was northbound on FM 1314 when witnesses say a Dodge pickup that was eastbound on Loop 336 ran a red light where those roads intersect, striking the side of the Mazda. The car was pushed into an older model Mercedes sedan that stopped in the westbound lanes of Loop 336 waiting to turn onto FM 1314. One of the Mazda’s three occupants was pronounced dead on the scene, a second was pronounced dead at an area hospital and a third was flown by PHI Air Medical to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, and pronounced dead at that hospital. The Conroe Police Department Community Oriented Response Team is investigating. Names will be posted after family members are notified. Additional details and videos will be posted later.
OCTOBER 16, 2010
FIRE IS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL 24 HOURS LATER
Fire crews spent most of the night last night and almost all day today still attempting to extinguish the fire grass, woods, and debris fire on FM1485 east at the county line.
Just after 3:30 pm Jonathan Owens who has lived on FM 1485 just a short time walked outside to his truck to get his study material for his electrical license. As he looked across the street he saw heavy smoke rising from the woods. After yelling to his wife to call 911 he ran across the street to the source of the smoke. He said he saw a man with a hose to be what appeared to be watering down a trash fire that had gotten out of hand. Flames were running for his house and tires were burning everywhere.
Reports were coming in from everywhere in the county of the smoke column. Smoke was seen as far away as Highway 290 and State Highway 6 by a squadron of Apache helicopters en-route to do a missing man formation at the Houston National Cemetery at Veterans Memorial and Beltway 8. The column was also visible from that location.
As the New Caney Fire Department arrived Jonathan assisted them in pulling the hose line. When he asked where the help is he was told it was on the way. New Caney requested mutual aid from multiple departments including Needham Road, Caney Creek, River Plantation, Porter, Huffman, Splendora, Plum Grove, Cleveland. In addition, the Texas Forest Service sent two dozers and a track hoe to assist.
Water was in short supply and besides using a plug several miles away water was also being pumped from the San Jacinto River.
The layout of the land made moving around very difficult. Besides thousands of tires, there were tons of construction debris including sheetrock, cans of paint thinner, wood, tile, brick even an old boat, and two empty 500-gallon steel tanks. The land was covered with pits and ravines some almost fifteen feet deep.
According to the Texas Forest service who must do a complete survey of the burn area by using GPS instruments the fire was 6.1 acres total.
Late Saturday night most crews left but New Caney Fire Department remained on the scene. Early this morning Houston Fire Department started to get calls of smoke in the area and people were having difficulty breathing.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office who had close FM1485 for the day reopened it just to close it back to one lane again to get tankers in and slow traffic in the smoky conditions.
Sunday morning Commissioner Ed Rinehart dispatched a track hoe to the scene with an operator to assist the fire department.
Chief Jeff Taylor of the New Caney Fire Department praised all the departments that assisted and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, Constable Rowdy Haydens office, and the Texas Forest Service. He also tanked Commissioner Rinehart for the equipment which was used to dig large holes, fill them with burning debris and cover them over with dirt.
Jonathan Owens whose little boy watched firefighters at work has decided he wants to be a fireman when he grows up. Owens also praised the fire departments and the way they put their hearts into it and got the job done.
The fire remains under investigation as to the cause. Some thought it could have been caused by an arc on a power line but others said it was a trash fire.
Apparently, the property owners planned on putting a go-kart track on the site and that was the reason for the tires.
Others told of many years ago another large fire burned at the same location. Some called this the largest fire they could remember involving debris and vegetation but others said the fire on FM1314 north of SH242 several years ago was much larger. In that fire abandon, mulch piles ignited bringing firefighters from many departments and there fighting it overnight.
OCTOBER 16, 2012
DOUBLE FATAL CRASH FM 2978
At 9:15 a.m. Magnolia Fire Department responded to a reported major accident with a vehicle fire. When they arrived on the scene they found a Ford F150 fully involved in fire and had just exploded. Next to it was a 1993 International Flatbed loaded with sheetrock. AS the fire was brought under control firefighters discovered the burned bodies of Francisco Cantu, 28, of Rosenburg, and Marshall Rebeles of Rosenburg. Rebeles was originally identified as Jonathan Candalaria, of Rosenburg, but after DPS Troopers made contact with the family they were informed he had been using a false name to avoid payig income taxes. The driver of the flatbed, Wilson Alberto Avelar, 31, of 6310 Dumfries in Houston was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Woodlands. His passenger Danny Vladmir Rivera, 29., of Houston was also transported to the same location in stable condition. According to DPS, Juan Jose Carrizales, 60, of 28536 FM 2978 was southbound on FM 2978 and with his turn signal on was waiting on the Ford F150 which was northbound on FM 2978 to turn into his driveway. At the same time, another vehicle went to the right around Carrizales and passed. Behind that vehicle was the flatbed which applied his brakes and unable to stop swerved into the northbound lane clipping Carrizales vehicle and hitting the Ford F-150 head-on. FM 2978 was closed for 7 hours as the investigation continued. It reopened just before 4 pm. At this time the driver of the flatbed, Avelar, has been arrested and is being booked into the Montgomery County Jail on two counts of Criminal Negligent Homicide. Avelar had a standard driver’s license and has been cited numerous times for not having a commercial license. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. DPS also dispatched their helicopter to the scene for aerial photographs. The bodies were transported by Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
OCTOBER 16, 2013
MAN WHO LIT 8-YEAR-OLD ON FIRE RETURNS TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO FACE FELONY MURDER CHARGES
On June 28, 1998, Robbie Middleton celebrated his eighth birthday and was playing with friends at this home in Splendora. It was then he asked permission to go to friends on the next street. The neighborhood children had a narrow trail through the woods which they used to get to the next street.
Not long after Middleton started down the trail he was confronted by Collins who is accused of dumping gas on Middleton and then lighting it. Middleton ran up the trail on fire tearing his clothes off. He soon emerged on Crossnow, the street he lived on. It was there several people saw him and came running, one grabbed a bucket of water, a driver passing stopped and called for an ambulance. Still others including Collins and Middleton’s father comforted him. When someone asked who had done this to him Middleton responded with the name Rex who was another friend who lived down the street. As they waited for EMS to arrive Middleton’s father went to the home of Rex but found nobody home.
EMS soon arrived and requested Life Flight which flew Middleton to Shriners Burn Center.
OCTOBER 16, 2014
FATAL CRASH GLEN LOCH ROAD
Just after 1:15 am Thursday morning a driver of a 2012 Honda Sonota was southbound at a high rate of speed in the 24600 block of Glen Loch just south of Wilde Woods Way. As he entered the curve he lost control slamming into the side of a driveway. The driver, who had no identification was pronounced dead on the scene by Montgomery County Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Matt Masden. He ordered Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to transport the victim to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
OCTOBER 16, 2015
FATAL CRASH FM 1485 AT FIRETOWER
At 5:24 am MCHD and New Caney Fire Department responded to a three-car major accident on FM 1485 at Firetower Road. Initial reports say that a white 2002 Nissan Sentra driven by James G. Barry III, 60, of New Caney was eastbound on FM 1485 when it came into the curve and crossed the center line. The Barry vehicle struck Ishia Garghar Hatten, 35 of Conroe in his 2010 Hyundai Sonata head-on. The Sonata then continued to slide into the intersection of Firetower Road where a Honda Accord was driven by Amanda Sholars,25, of Conroe who was waiting at the stop sign. The female driver saw the crash and the Hyundai coming toward her after being struck. She was able to quickly move her vehicle which has been in the direct path of the Hyundai. She escaped severe injury as the Sonata slammed into her vehicle. There was a very heavy fog at the time. Hatten was entrapped in his Hyundai and was extricated by Caney Creek Fire Department who assisted. That driver was taken to Conroe Regional Hospital in critical condition after a helicopter request was turned down due to fog.
Barry, the driver of the Nissan was also entrapped and after a lengthy extrication by the New Caney Fire Department went into trauma arrest, crews worked on the driver for an extended time but he was pronounced dead just before 6:30 am.
Montgomery County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James Metts ordered Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to transport Barry to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
FM 1485 was closed until 10 am as DPS worked the investigation,
At 5:18 am Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office dispatched an attempt to locate a small white passenger car eastbound on SH 242 approaching FM 1485. It was being followed by the person who reported the vehicle. That person said the vehicle was swerving all over the road. The vehicle then turned right onto FM 1485 and the person reporting it no longer followed. They put a license number of CDW1152. Just 6 minutes later that vehicle, driven by Barry crossed the line Hatten head-on and closed FM 1485.
Barry was arrested in 2007 by Houston Police for possession of a controlled substance and given 3 years probation deferred. In May of 2010 that probation was revoked and he was sent to State Jail for 1 year. Then on September 4, 2012, he was arrested in Montgomery County for DWI. For that, he was fined $1000 and got 3 days in jail. Then on Halloween of 2013, he was once again arrested in Montgomery County for DWI and 9 months later was sentenced to 60 days in the Montgomery County Jail.
OCTOBER 16, 2015
ALDINE HOUSE FIRE GREENBRIAR DR
About 9 pm on Friday Aldine Fire Department responded to a house fire at 2147 Greenbriar Colony off Aldine Westfield near Bush Airport. They arrived to find heavy fire coming from the second floor of a two-story home. The flames were melting the vinyl siding on the home next to it. Firefighters were able to put a quick stop to the flames preventing major damage to the structure next door.
Aldine was assisted by Westfield Road Fire Department and Houston Fire Department.
OCTOBER 16, 2016
HEAD-ON CRASH 6200 RICHMOND
Just after 2 am Sunday a silver Buick was eastbound on Richmond and for unknown reasons came across to the westbound lanes at Ocee. The male driver in the Buick struck a Chevrolet Trailblazer head-on. The female driver of the TrailBlazer and the male driver in the Buick had to be cut out by firefighters. The female passenger of the TrailBlazer was uninjured. Both drivers suffered broken bones but not life-threatening injuries. It is unknown if the driver of the Buick was impaired.
OCTOBER 16, 2016
SOUTHWEST FREEWAY FATAL CRASH
A woman ran out of gas at the Southwest Freeway and Belfort.
She had two of her kids with her, her nine-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter.
The woman ran out of gas around 8 pm and called her mother-in-law for help.
Her mother-in-law arrived, went and got gas, and returned.
As they were filling up the car, another car on the highway clipped a van, lost control, and crashed into the family’s sedan. The mother-in-law, who was between her vehicle and the vehicle being refueled, was killed.
Her daughter-in-law and 15-year-old granddaughter had non-life-threatening injuries. The boy was uninjured.
The driver of the car has been identified as Stephen Cook (former police officer) and charged with intoxication manslaughter.
OCTOBER 16, 2017
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRECINCT 4 OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING -FATAL
Monday afternoon a Montgomery County Precinct 4 Deputy working an extra job spotted a possible stolen motorcycle. When the deputy ran the plate is it proceeded south on Loop 494 near Northpark. The deputy attempted to pull the motorcycle over a which time the driver accelerated to a high rate of speed and vanished. Moments later a second Precinct 4 deputy spotted the motorcycle at Kingwood and Loop 494 and attempted to stop it. A pursuit started again as the motorcycle ran between vehicles, hitting some in traffic. Just before the motorcycle reached the intersection of Chestnut Ridge, the driver crashed. The male then ran into the car wash of the new TimeWise Shell Station which had opened just a week ago. The deputy followed and as the male exited the car wash he attempted to carjack and an elderly man in a BMW SUV. The man fought back which gave the deputy enough time to descend on him. The deputy first tried to taze him which had no effect. A struggle began and the suspect tried to reach in his backpack to retrieve a gun. Seeing the gun and fearing for his life the deputy fired. The suspect was pronounced dead by Houston EMS when they arrived on the scene. Since the crash happened in the Houston city limits, Houston Police took lead in the case. The Texas Rangers were assisting. Traffic on Kingwood Drive came to a standstill as all eastbound lanes were closed. Almost every major street in Kingwood was backed up due to the scene. The deputy was not injured. Constable Rowdy Hayden is withholding any comment as HPD has an open investigation.
OCTOBER 16, 2017
SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY ADDRESSES SENATE HEARING-NEW CANEY HARVEY DESTRUCTION
Monday several State Senators were present in Montgomery County to hear testimony on the Harvey Flooding. Members of Federal, State, and local agencies answered questions put to them by the panel. In addition, several residents also testified. This video is the one-hour and fifteen-minute testimony given by the San Jacinto River Authority. Questions were put to them on why there was no pre-release. Why the gates had to open. The way the dam is designed the normal water level is 18-inches below the top of the gates. When the release of almost 80,000 CFS of water was released, almost 140,000 CFS were entering the lake from the watershed above. If water were to pour over the gates the possibility of immediate erosion and possible failure was possible. It was explained and documented by them on the weather predictions and rainfall across the area. Discussions came upon dealing with dredging the river, and possibly additional retention ponds below the dam. The entire 6-1/2 hour video will be posted as soon as we are able to get it loaded to the server.
OCTOBER 16, 2017
ENTIRE 6-HOUR SENATE HEARING IN EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY ON HARVEY DESTRUCTION BY SJRA
THIS IS THE ENTIRE SENATE HEARING HELD IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY TEXAS ON HURRICANE HARVEY DISASTER ON 10/16/17
TOTAL HEARING 6 HOURS AND 50 MINUTES
Monday several State Senators were present in Montgomery County to hear testimony on the Harvey Flooding. Members of Federal, State, and local agencies answered questions put to them by the panel. In addition, several residents also testified. This video is the one-hour and fifteen-minute testimony given by the San Jacinto River Authority. Questions were put to them on why there was no pre-release. Why the gates had to open. The way the dam is designed the normal water level is 18-inches below the top of the gates. When the release of almost 80,000 CFS of water was released, almost 140,000 CFS were entering the lake from the watershed above. If water were to pour over the gates the possibility of immediate erosion and possible failure was possible. It was explained and documented by them on the weather predictions and rainfall across the area. Discussions came upon dealing with dredging the river, and possibly additional retention ponds below the dam. The entire 6-1/2 hour video
OCTOBER 16, 2019
WOODLANDS WALMART ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
Just after 2:30am a black male with a black hoodie, gray shorts and mask entered the Walmart at SH 242 and I45 in a robbery attempt. He did fire off a shot into the air before fleeing. It is not known what caused him to leave empty-handed. Customers and Associates hit the floor then fled through exits. Multiple Police Agencies responded and sealed the area just as an intense rainstorm hit. The male did drop a backpack which detectives are now processing along with store video. We will post an interview with a store customer who was shopping with her family when the shot went off. She was scared for her life as in the quick exit from the store the family became separated. There were no injuries reported. However, the store remains closed.
OCTOBER 16, 2019
CAR SURFING INJURY
A Klein Oak High School student was injured Wednesday while ‘car surfing,’ authorities said.
It happened outside Hildebrandt Intermediate School in the parking lot adjacent to the high school.
A 17-year-old was driving a red Mini-Cooper in the lot while another 17-year-old was riding on top of the vehicle, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Investigators on the scene said the driver suddenly applied the brakes, which caused the victim to fall off and hit his head on the pavement.
The victim was airlifted to a hospital, according to Justin Elbert with Klein ISD. Gonzales said the boy suffered a serious head injury.
OCTOBER 16, 2020
UTILITY POLE ALMOST SPLITS CAR IN TWO
Just before 12:30 pm, Porter Fire received a call for a major accident with entrapment on Sorters Road just north of North Park. They arrived to find a utility pole in the front seat of the vehicle with the driver. They also learned a 9-year-old girl had been sitting in the front seat but had escaped and was walking around. In addition, an 8-year-old boy had been in the back seat without a seatbelt and was not showing any signs of trauma. He also escaped from the wreckage. The male driver of the vehicle was trapped for close to 30-minutes as crews worked to free him from between the center console and the utility pole. He was transported to the hospital in stable condition and was talking to rescuers though the entire operation. Due to the severity of the crash and the female child having some internal pain the two children were transported to Texas Children’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. The father was taken to Kingwood Hospital. Firefighters worked with the pole cracked in two and the overhead lines still energized. DPS cited the driver on at least four charges including no driver’s license or insurance. According to a witness who was working on the water plane next to the scene. The vehicle was northbound on Sorters when it came around the curve on the wet road. The vehicle went to the ditch, hit the end of a driveway, and launched, almost hitting the first set of lines some 16-feet off the ground.
OCTOBER 16, 2020
WOODLANDS FIRE ACADEMY
This morning’s program at The Woodlands Fire Department Training Grounds on IH-45 provided participants first-hand experience with scenarios to rotate through, including a flashover chamber building fire, a vehicle extrication, EMS CPR activity, and a firefighter search and rescue with a hose pull and water stream. Firefighter leaders also briefly discussed trending public safety issues. Participants were fitted with firefighting gear and actually participated in each phase of the exercise including the flashover chamber. A Flashover is a thermally-driven event during which every combustible surface exposed to thermal radiation in a compartment or enclosed space rapidly and simultaneously ignites. Flashover normally occurs when the upper portion of the compartment reaches a temperature of approximately 1,100 °F for ordinary combustibles. Participants include U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady; Texas State Reps Steve Toth, Ernest Bailes and Cecil Bell; The Woodlands Township Directors Shelly Sekula-Gibbs, Bob Milner and Jason J.Nelson; Shenandoah Mayor Ritch Wheeler; Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable Ryan Gable and his Chief Deputy Simner. Also The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce CEO J.J. Hollie; and Woodlands business owners Dan Althorn and Terry McBurney and Joe Haliti with Conroe’s Joe’s Italian Restaurant.
WOODLANDS FIRE DEPARTMENT FLASHOVER ROOM WITH HELMET CAM-CONGRESSMAN KEVIN BRADY
OCTOBER 16, 2022
FM 2090 SHOOTING
On October 16th, 2022 at about 02:20 am, MCTXSheriff Deputies were dispatched to a shooting call at a night club in the 27000 block of FM 2090 in Splendora, TX. Upon arrival, Deputies learned that one Hispanic male was shot in the head and one male suspect had fled the scene.
The victim was transported to Kingwood Hospital where he was then taken by LifeFlight to the Houston Medical Center. He is currently in critical but stable condition.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit, and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene and are continuing to investigate.
This shooting appears to be related to an ongoing feud between the victim and suspect. There does not appear to be a threat to the general public at this time.
If you have any information regarding this case please contact The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-760-5800 option 3, or call Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP (7867) and refer to case # 22A309653.
OCTOBER 16, 2022
DRIVER RUNS RED LIGHT CRITICALLY INJURES FAMILY I 69 AT GRAND PARKWAY
At 9:20 pm Sunday night a frantic call came across the radios in Montgomery County as a Wood Branch Officer reported on-viewing a crash at I-69 and the Grand Parkway. He reported multiple critically injured persons. Porter Fire responded to the scene along with MCHD. The first units on the scene immediately called for additional rescue equipment and four additional ambulances. A Chevrolet pickup was westbound on the I-69 feeder when the driver ran the red light at the intersection of the Grand Parkway and the I-69 northbound feeder. He struck a Honda Accord with a mother, father, and three children ages 4,8, and 14 in the vehicle that was traveling north through the intersection. The impact drove the Honda into the traffic signal support pole where before ricocheting off and hitting the guard rail on the opposite side of the intersection, it sprayed glass and debris over the Wood Branch patrol unit which was traveling in the u-turn lane from southbound I-69 to northbound. The officer immediately called for help and then sprang into action working to stabilize the injured victims. Porter firefighters worked to free at least two of the victims who were trapped. MCHD transported two of the children first in critical condition to Kingwood Hospital. Other units arrived to transport the other child, the adult male and female from the Accord who was also in critical condition. The driver and passenger of the Chevrolet pickup suffered minor injuries. DPS was assisted by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Unit. A DPS Air Unit responded to the scene to document the scene with a drone. The vehicles were removed by Milstead Wreckers. THe intersection reopened at 2:30 am. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and TXDOT assisted with traffic control.
UPDATE 7/21/23–PLEA DEAL IN CHILDS DEATH GIVES PORTER MAN ONE YEAR IN JAIL
At 9:20 pm on October 16, 2022 a frantic call came across the radios in Montgomery County as a Wood Branch Officer reported on-viewing a crash at I-69 and the Grand Parkway. He reported multiple critically injured persons. Porter Fire responded to the scene along with MCHD. The first units on the scene immediately called for additional rescue equipment and four additional ambulances. A Chevrolet pickup was westbound on the I-69 feeder when the driver ran the red light at the intersection of the Grand Parkway and the I-69 northbound feeder. He struck a Honda Accord with a mother, father, and three children ages 4,8, and 14 in the vehicle that was traveling north through the intersection. The impact drove the Honda into the traffic signal support pole where before ricocheting off and hitting the guard rail on the opposite side of the intersection, it sprayed glass and debris over the Wood Branch patrol unit which was traveling in the u-turn lane from southbound I-69 to northbound. The officer immediately called for help and then sprang into action working to stabilize the injured victims. Porter firefighters worked to free at least two of the victims who were trapped. MCHD transported two of the children first in critical condition to Kingwood Hospital. Other units arrived to transport the other child, the adult male and female from the Accord who was also in critical condition. The driver and passenger of the Chevrolet pickup suffered minor injuries. Lopez showed no signs of impairment. DPS was assisted by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Unit with the investigation. The 14-year-old boy passed away at the hospital on November 18, 2022. The driver of the striking vehicle, Sebastian Lopez told Troopers he was on his way to Whataburger for food and had been working on this truck for several days prior. He had no brakes and was attempting to stop with the parking brake. Troopers were able to download data from the onboard computer of the truck. The data showed that Lopez was traveling at 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. He had slowed to 53mph at the point of impact. The brake switch circuit had not activated for the last 8-seconds prior to the crash. A hold was put on the vehicle. After the teen passed Troopers transported the Chevrolet Silverado to Weisner GMC in Conroe in December for a forensic analysis of it’s mechanical system. There they found no brake fluid in the reservoir, no caliper or brake pad on the left front, the front right caliper was not connected properly and the right rear brake pad was broken. The Montgomery County District Attorney. after conferring with the family involved and the issue that Lopez had no prior record. A plea deal was reached. The charge of manslaughter which is a second degree felony was reduced to Criminally Negligent Homicide, a State Jail Felony. Lopez was then sentenced last week to one-year State Jail. With State Jail there is no parole and is day for day. However, Lopez has already spend 202 days in the Montgomery County Jail after his arrest on December 22, 2022 at which time his bail was set at $100,000.