Westbound South Loop traffic near MLK backed up for miles during the hours long closure.
HOUSTON, Texas — A CenterPoint Energy passenger died Friday after a Ford F-450 utility truck collided with an 18-wheeler on the 610 South Loop near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard around 9:25 a.m., prompting major lane closures and a lengthy rescue operation, police said.
Investigators with the Houston Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Division said preliminary evidence indicates the utility truck made an unsafe lane change and struck the tractor-trailer’s front-right tire. The impact sent both vehicles toward the shoulder, where they crashed into a steel retaining wall and a light pole. Two CenterPoint employees were inside the truck. Crews freed the driver first and then spent nearly two hours cutting into the crushed cab to reach the trapped passenger, who was transported in critical condition and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Authorities said the big rig driver remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. The CenterPoint driver was evaluated and did not report serious injuries. No other major injuries were immediately confirmed. “We are deeply saddened to share that one of our employees has passed away,” CenterPoint Energy said in a statement, adding that it is supporting the worker’s family and colleagues. On-scene, Sgt. Alejandro said early findings point to the utility truck’s unsafe merge, though the investigation will test other factors, including speed and equipment condition.
The crash gridlocked westbound Loop 610 traffic through midday as responders closed multiple lanes near the 5500 block of South Loop East. Traffic cameras showed vehicles inching past the wreckage while tow operators and firefighters stabilized the toppled pickup and checked the damaged light pole. City crews inspected the pole and concrete barrier before allowing traffic to resume. All lanes reopened in the afternoon after wreckers cleared the 18-wheeler and the utility truck and the roadway was swept of debris.
Police said detectives are collecting witness statements and requesting dashcam and commercial telematics data to reconstruct the sequence. Depending on findings, citations or charges could be considered, but none had been announced by Friday evening. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will confirm the victim’s identity and cause of death. Investigators also plan to review nearby business surveillance video and traffic camera footage to evaluate lane positions and timing in the seconds before impact.
Drivers exiting at MLK and on frontage roads described a loud bang followed by dust as the truck and rig slid toward the right shoulder. A tow driver said the pickup’s roofline was “pancaked,” requiring cribbing and careful cuts to avoid further injury during the rescue. A nearby shop owner said employees lost customers late morning because access points were blocked by police tape and fire trucks. By early afternoon, traffic resumed, but tire marks and scattered plastic remained visible along the right lanes.
As of late Friday, the case remained open with a fuller reconstruction expected this week. Police said a public update on findings and any enforcement decisions could come after interviews are completed and video evidence is reviewed.
Author note: Last updated January 5, 2026.