OCTOBER 23, 2006
CONROE PD CHASE CRASH 45 AT CRIEGHTON
OCTOBER 23, 2007
NEW CANEY HOUSE FIRE
OCTOBER 23, 2012
BABY CRITICALLY INJURED IN CRASH AFTER INTOXICATED MOTHER HITS TREE
Just before 3:30 pm as DPS Troopers were preparing to reopen FM 2978 after an almost seven-hour double fatal crash investigation another accident with injuries was reported on Carriage Hills Blvd. about one mile north of FM 1488. When DPS arrived Needham Fire Department was on the scene and MCHD had just transported Esther Anderson, 39, who lives in Carriage Hills, and her twenty-month-old daughter to the hospital. Esther was taken to Memorial Hermann in the Woodlands in stable condition. Her daughter who suffered serious facial trauma was taken to Hermann Hospital in Houston. According to a witness, Esther Anderson was northbound on Carriage Hills Blvd. in a 2004 GMC Envoy. Her daughter was standing in front of her in the driver’s seat. As they rounded a slight curve in the road Andersons SUV went into a sideways slide and struck a large pine tree. That tree crushed the passenger side of the vehicle into where the center console was. When rescue workers arrived they discovered an open beer between Esther Andersons legs. She was in and out of consciousness and was not aware the child was with her. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Vehicular Crime Unit responded to the scene to assist DPS in the investigation. With the child’s serious injuries and the fact that the open beer was between her legs, a mandatory blood draw was done. The results are not in yet but troopers are remaining at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Woodlands overnight as a word from the hospital indicated Esther Anderson would be released sometime Wednesday morning. Upon her release from the hospital, she will be placed in custody and transported to the Montgomery County Jail on the charge of Intoxicated Assault With Serious Bodily Injury. While Troopers investigated the crash Esther Andersons husband Robert Alexander Anderson, 53, of 2409 Palomino in Conroe arrived at the scene to check on the condition of his wife. He was placed in custody by DPS Troopers for an open Montgomery County warrant of Abandon/Endanger Child Criminal Negligence from earlier this year. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail on a $1500 bond. With heavy rains falling Troopers finished the investigation at approximately 9 p.m. The vehicle was then taken to a lighted parking lot where several more open beer containers were found on the passenger floorboard. DPS Sgt. The fountain was able to stand in the impression from the tree on the passenger side of the SUV and not be seen from the front. Under the vehicle, the frame was almost crushed together. No child safety seat was found in the vehicle According to her husband Esther had left earlier in the afternoon to get a birthday cake for their 9-year-old child. A cake was not found in the SUV. As Troopers worked the scene the memories of the April 2, 2012 crash involving a Chevrolet Tahoe took the life of the 8-month-old child of Ashli Heil when she was intoxicated and struck a tree crushing her baby in the car seat between the vehicle and tree.
OCTOBER 23, 2013
HOUSTON POLICE BIKE OFFICER HIT BY TRUCK IN KINGWOOD
Just after 7 am Wednesday morning a Houston Police Bicycle Patrol Officer assigned to Kingwood was traveling south on the sidewalk at Kingwood Drive and West Lake Houston Parkway. As he crossed the driveway of the Exxon station a pickup truck that had been northbound on West Lake Houston Parkway turned right into the driveway striking the officer.
The officer was transported to Houston Northeast Medical Center in Kingwood in stable condition.
OCTOBER 23, 2013
FATAL RAIL ACCIDENT AT UNION TANK CAR IN CLEVELAND
Just after 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, crews with Bayou City Rail were working on the railroad tracks at the Union Tank Car facility on County Road 2205. Oscar Alfro, 65, who was employed by the company was picking up scrap steel with a tractor. He had gotten off the tractor to gather some small pieces and throw them into the cab of the tractor. Investigators believe that one of those pieces thrown into the tractor hit the actuator lever on the tractor causing the boom to swing. This pinned Alfro between the tractor and the boom killing him. His son who was also working at the job site found him. According to Liberty County investigators, Alfro will be transported for autopsy.
OCTOBER 23, 2013
FATAL CRASH LOOP 105 IN CLEVELAND
Just after 11:30 a.m. DPS and Cleveland Fire Department were dispatched to a major accident on Loop 105 between US 59 and SH 105. When they arrived on the scene they found a Lambert’s Ready-Mix dump truck on its side. The truck had lost its load of almost 12 yards of sand. It was also heavily damaged on the left side. Approximately 100 yards away was a Chevrolet pickup with the cab ripped open. Inside were an elderly male and female. The male was deceased on the scene. The female was flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston in very critical condition.
According to DPS, the pickup was eastbound on Loop 105 and for an unknown reason veered into the westbound land. The dump truck, which had just gotten onto the loop from FM 1010 struck the pickup before rolling over.
According to a witness, the dump truck which was westbound did everything possible to avoid the collision including going off to the side of the road.
Part of the door of the pickup was impaled in the dump bed of the dump truck.
The driver of the dump truck suffered minor injuries.
At this time DPS is not releasing names until the next of kin are notified.
As of 5 pm, the Loop remains closed.
OCTOBER 23, 2014
MOBILE HOME FIRE SERVICE DOG DIES
OCTOBER 23, 2014
NOLAN FANNIN MEMORIAL
A large group gathered Thursday evening on the top floor of the Conroe Tower to honor the memory of Conroe Police Officer Nolan Fannin, who died unexpectedly September 26, following a routine surgery. A graveside service was held in Elkhart on the Tuesday after his death, but many who wanted to pay tribute were unable to attend.
Thursday’s gathering was attended by law enforcement, community leaders, and other friends who remembered Fannin with laughter and tears. Conroe Deputy Police Chief Russell Reynolds organized the event, with CPD Chaplain, Dr. Charles Walton officiating.
Dr. Walton shared the first Psalm, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditates day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
He compared the scripture with the choice a person makes to become a police officer, choosing good over evil.
“People who made a career of law enforcement have obviously chosen to be good and a blessing and not a curse,” Dr. Walton said.
Chief Reynolds then gave some background on Fannin’s career in law enforcement, including the story of Fannin returning to criminal investigations after trying his hand at some other areas of enforcement. Reynolds was over that division at the time and Fannin had to formally interview. His recollection of their meeting drew knowing laughter.
“He came into his interview for that detective position wearing a 3-piece-suit and he was shined up and looking so good,” Reynolds said. “And that was the only time I ever saw that three-piece suit – he must have borrowed it from somebody because I never saw it again.”
Reynolds remembered Fannin as “quirky, intelligent, multi-dimensional, well-read, a motorcycle enthusiast and a great guy.”
“The boy knew his stuff and could hold an argument with you on just about any topic…and frequently did,” Reynolds said. “The department is going to miss him in so many ways.”
He also recalled that Fannin loved John Wayne and all things “cowboy,” and that Fannin’s mother had commented her son was born 100 years too late.
Everyone watched a slideshow that began with Fannin as a small child and followed his life through recent years.
Others then shared their memories. Most drew both tears and laughter.
The last to share was a member of Fannin’s family who thanked everyone for attending and especially Chief Reynolds without whom she said the family would have been lost while dealing with the tragedy.
Officer Nolan Fannin was 58.
OCTOBER 23, 2015
18 WHEELER LOADED WITH SHASTA SOFT DRINKS ROLLS OVER IN WILLIS
At 730am Friday morning, North Montgomery County Fire Department and MCHD responded to a reported 18-wheeler crash on Highway 75 near Espinoza just north of Shepherd Hill Road. They arrived to find a 1991 Jeep on the west side of the road with heavy damage and an 18-wheeler on the east side of the road. According to DPS, the Jeep was southbound and the 18-wheeler, loaded with almost 20,000 pounds of canned Shasta soft drinks was northbound when for unknown reasons they clipped each other. The 18 wheeler left the road and slammed into a tree trapping the driver. His trailer split and a load of soft drinks went out the front of the trailer. The truck driver was transported in critical condition to Conroe Regional Medical Center with a broken leg and severed artery.
The driver of the Jeep was transported in stable condition to Conroe Regional Hospital.
Milstead Heavy Duty responded to the scene and had to transport the truck in three pieces. Haz-Mat International was tasked with cleaning up the close to 20,000 pounds of soft drinks covered in over 200 gallons of diesel fuel. US 75 is expected to open later this afternoon however the diesel cleanup will last into the night. Motorists are urged to use caution as this crash is in a blind curve with no shoulders.
OCTOBER 23, 2016
I 45 AUTO PEDESTRIAN FATAL
Saturday night a male attempted to cross I-45 during heavy traffic. A concert had just let out at Toyota Center and traffic was extremely heavy. The male was struck by a northbound party bus and thrown into HOV Lane. He died at the scene. I-45 North was closed several hours as Houston Police Investigated. THe area of the freeway is extremely dark. The overhead illumination light is in place but was not lit.
OCTOBER 23, 2016
I-10 AT WASHINGTON FATAL CRASH
Houston police are investigating fatal crash at 5963 Katy Freeway (West Interstate Highway 10) about 1:10 a.m. on Sunday (October 23).
The identity of the female victim is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
HPD Vehicular Crimes Division Sergeant A. Thomas and Officer D. Robinson reported:
The driver of a blue Chevrolet Trax was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on the Katy Freeway and struck the rear of a black Honda Accord, also traveling eastbound. The Chevrolet lost control and spun around, facing oncoming traffic. The Chevrolet was then struck head-on by a silver Chevrolet Malibu. The female passenger in the Trax was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. The other occupants of all three vehicles were also transported to area hospitals in unknown conditions.
The investigation is continuing.
OCTOBER 23, 2016
WHATABURGER ROBBERY
Early Sunday morning 2 black males entered the Whataburger on FM 1960 West near Willowbrook and robbed it. Moments later they were spotted in the FM 1960 and Mills Road area. A manhunt including HCSO and HPD. After searching for nearly 4 hours the search was called off.
OCTOBER 23, 2018
LAKE TRAVIS FLOODING UPDATE
With the torrential rains in Central Texas, last week came the flooding. Lake Travis in Austin is at an all-time high and is dropping very slowly. LCRA said incoming water from the upstream lakes is equal to an Olympic size swimming pool of water every 3 seconds. In the Village of Volente is the Volente Beach Club which started out in the early 90’s as just a marina and restaurant that replaced an old 12×12 fishing shack on the land. The first year opened over 300 truckloads of sand were brought in to create a beach. Just a few months later flooding took that sand away. Over the years it has gained popularity to the point a water park was erected. Today, that water park is underwater, the docks are isolated from the main complex just leaving umbrellas above the waterline. The Mansfield Dam is flowing 4 gates into the Colorado River which will eventually end up near Bay City after passing through Bastrop, Smithville, and Wharton. Flooding is expected there. Lakeway has flooding near the marina and Graveyard Point is underwater. Austin has instituted a boil order. Many restaurants are closed. The ones open are serving bottled water. Others like Smokey J’s BBQ which has been in Austin for over 30 -years are open but not serving tea. County Line BBQ advertises “WHO NEEDS WATER, WE HAVE BEER AND BBQ”. Still, others are closed without a way to rinse vegetables or wash dishes. Some are actually boiling the water first before rinsing produce or dishes. Coffee is hard to find, Starbucks is serving hot coffee but not cold-crafted coffee. Convenience stores have fountain drink dispensers closed down. Stores shelves are bare of bottled water, tea, and a few other drinks. Walmart has quit stocking shelves and selling right off the pallet.
12:35 p.m. update: As Travis County prepares for double-digit days without clean water, Austin Water officials said they only think residents will be asked to boil water for a “handful of days.”
“Much of that estimate, however, depends on variables such as weather and consumer demands,” said Austin Water Director Greg Mezaros. “We continue to make long-term plans in the event this situation isn’t quickly resolved. We will continue to monitor the situation and ask that (the) public continue to be diligent in reducing their water usage.” Visitors to Austin tMany hotel rooms have in-room coffee pots where your bottled water will come in handy for a hot cup.
10/23/18 noon update
Earlier in the morning, county officials said they were preparing for 10 to 14 days of the boil order. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said that estimate is a worst-case scenario, and that the ban could be lifted sooner.
OCTOBER 23, 2023
MOTORCYCLE FATAL FM 149
At 2:45 pm Monday a 72-year-old man was traveling north on FM 149 in the Sam Houston National Forest on his 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle. As he approached the intersection of FM 1375 a Nissan Murano traveling south failed to yield the right of way. As the vehicle turned east onto FM 1375 the motorcyclist who never had time to hit his brakes slammed into the back door of the Nissan. Montgomery Fire responded along with MCHD and DPS. The motorcyclist was transported to HCA Conroe Hospital. He was pronounced deceased on arrival. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicuial Crimes Unit assists DPS with the investigation.
