The freeway closed for hours. We still don’t know what caused the driver to lose control.
HOUSTON — Nine people, including several children, were crammed into one car when it crashed on the Gulf Freeway Wednesday afternoon, killing a small child and injuring multiple others, according to Webster police.
The crash happened near the NASA Parkway exit on Interstate 45 southbound around 4:45 p.m. when police say the Chevrolet sedan lost control and hit a concrete barrier. The impact shut down the freeway for hours as two Life Flight helicopters took victims to multiple Houston-area hospitals.
Webster Police Chief Peter Bacon said Thursday that investigators are still working to properly identify everyone involved in the crash.
“We have names and approximate ages but still need verified ID on several occupants,” Bacon said. “Patients were transported to several different Houston area hospitals, making patient follow-up more time consuming for investigators.”
Bacon said excessive speed appears to be a possible cause, though investigators won’t know for certain until crash reconstruction is complete.
“We also believe that many of the occupants, including the children, were not properly restrained,” Bacon said.
Toxicology results are still pending as investigators continue gathering evidence. The Webster Police Department is working with the Harris County District Attorney’s Vehicular Crimes Division to determine possible charges.
Police have not released the name of the child who died in the crash.
“Currently, we do not feel it is appropriate to release the young victim’s name until we have a full understanding of who the occupants are and their relationships,” Bacon said.
The investigation remains ongoing.