HPD patrol unit hits, kills pedestrian crossing East Freeway, police say

KHOU11
Author: Jaime E. Galvan, Michelle Choi
Published: 5:01 AM CST December 30, 2022
Updated: 7:12 AM CST December 30, 2022

HOUSTON — The East Freeway reopened heading inbound following two separate deadly auto-pedestrian crashes, including one involving a police patrol unit, according to the Houston Police Department.

According to Houston Transtar, the inbound lanes reopened at 5:25 a.m. following a deadly crash involving a police patrol unit. The outbound lanes reopened just after 7 a.m. following a separate deadly auto-pedestrian crash.

The first crash happened just after 2 a.m. in the inbound lanes near Lathrop, not far from Wayside Drive.

HPD Assist. Chief Ernest Garcia III said the officer was heading inbound when his patrol unit hit a bump in the road. The officer said whatever he hit, he struck it hard since his airbags deployed.

The officer said the crash startled him, so he stopped on the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. That is when the officer realized there was something on the side of the patrol unit.

Police said the officer then spotted the body in the middle of the freeway. It was not clear what the pedestrian had been doing prior to the crash.

Responders with the Houston Fire Department pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The victim is said to be a man in his 30s.

HPD Assistant Chief Garcia provides an update on fatal auto-pedestrian at East Freeway at Lathrop https://t.co/k0Nnrng9YW

— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) December 30, 2022

HPD’s Vehicular Crimes Division is investigating the crash. The officer was responding to a non-emergency call at the time of the crash.

“We never want to see this happen,” Garcia said. “We don’t ever want to see pedestrians crossing the freeway with limited lighting, especially when there is a crosswalk near up right above where the impact occurred.”

According to Houston Transtar, there is a second crash in the outbound lanes near Wayside Drive that happened just after 3 a.m. Details on that crash are limited.