Two people were killed Tuesday after a major crash shut down the eastbound lanes of the East Freeway in Channelview for hours.
The crash happened shortly before noon on Interstate 10 near Monmouth, where at least three vehicles were initially reported to be involved, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Authorities have released preliminary details about two of the vehicles.
A white Jeep Wrangler and a red Ford Explorer were traveling eastbound on the freeway when the Explorer’s driver, whom Gonzalez described as “driving recklessly,” rear-ended the Jeep. The Explorer then went down an embankment, according to Gonzalez.
The driver and passenger inside the Explorer were pronounced dead at the scene.
One person was inside the Jeep and suffered minor injuries, according to Gonzalez. That person was taken to a nearby hospital.
Gonzalez said there were no signs of impairment at the scene.
The eastbound lanes of the East Freeway remained shut down Tuesday afternoon, but the Sheriff’s Office expected the lanes to reopen by 4 p.m., during peak traffic hours.
No additional information has been released, but an investigation remains underway.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.