20-Year-Old Charged With Intoxication Manslaughter in Wrong-Way I-45 Crash That Killed Conroe Woman

CONROE, Texas — A 20-year-old man has been arrested on an intoxication manslaughter charge in connection with a wrong-way crash on Interstate 45 that killed a 59-year-old woman in Conroe last month.

Kaden Patrick Lamoreau, 20, surrendered at the Montgomery County Jail on the evening of Monday, November 9, 2026, after being released from the hospital, according to an update issued by the Conroe Police Department on Tuesday.

Lamoreau is accused of driving a pickup truck the wrong way on I-45 before colliding head-on with an SUV driven by Emelia Muniz, 59, on October 25.

Muniz died at the scene.

Detectives with the Conroe Police Department Traffic Reconstruction Unit worked alongside the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Unit to obtain an arrest warrant charging Lamoreau with intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony.

Wrong-Way Driver Reportedly Traveling 100 MPH Before Deadly Crash

The fatal collision occurred early Sunday morning, October 25, 2026.

At approximately 4:40 a.m., Conroe police dispatchers received a call reporting a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 45.

A second caller reported seeing a dark-colored pickup truck near Gladstell at approximately 4:41 a.m.

As officers responded, another caller reported that the pickup was traveling at approximately 100 mph.

About two minutes later, dispatchers began receiving multiple calls reporting a major collision involving a pickup truck and a white SUV.

Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the crash near the Highway 105 exit.

Investigators determined that a dark blue Nissan Titan had been traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-45 when it collided head-on with a northbound Honda CR-V.

Both vehicles sustained extensive front-end damage.

SUV Driver Pronounced Dead at Scene

Emergency responders provided medical assistance to both drivers.

Muniz, who was driving the Honda CR-V, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pickup driver, later identified as Lamoreau, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The Conroe Police Department Traffic Reconstruction Unit began investigating the collision, with assistance from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Unit.

Investigators initially examined whether intoxication played a role in the crash.

In an October 28 update, police confirmed that the pickup driver had suffered serious injuries and that investigators were working with prosecutors to determine appropriate charges.

Suspect Surrenders After Hospital Release

On November 10, Conroe police identified Lamoreau as the driver of the Nissan Titan and announced that an arrest warrant had been secured for intoxication manslaughter.

Following his release from the hospital, Lamoreau surrendered to authorities at the Montgomery County Jail on November 9.

He was taken into custody on the outstanding warrant.

The charge is a second-degree felony under Texas law.