Utility Truck Passenger Dies After Being Pinned in IH-610 Crash Involving 18-Wheeler

HOUSTON – A serious crash on the South Loop claimed the life of a utility worker Friday morning after a collision involving an 18-wheeler and a CenterPoint Energy truck.

The Houston Fire Department responded around 9:30 a.m. to a major accident on IH-610 South Loop westbound near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Fire officials said an 18-wheeler struck a CenterPoint Energy utility truck, pinning it against a light pole.

The driver of the 18-wheeler and the driver of the utility truck were not injured. A passenger inside the utility truck, however, was trapped and pinned inside the vehicle.

Rescue crews worked for nearly two hours under challenging conditions to free the victim. Once extricated, the passenger was transported to Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts, the victim later died at the hospital.

Houston Fire Department officials praised the coordinated response, noting that rescue and hazardous materials teams were involved in the prolonged extrication while providing critical medical care at the scene.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The Houston Police Department is leading the investigation.