HOUSTON, TX – A tragic collision on the West Park Tollway in southwest Houston claimed the life of one woman and left two others injured. The crash, involving a car and a tow truck, occurred early in the morning, and new details are emerging from those who survived.
Nelson Vargas, the tow truck driver, recounted the harrowing moments before the crash. He and his coworker were en route to assist another vehicle when they were struck. Surveillance footage shows a white sedan speeding toward them just as the light turned green.
“I told my co-worker to brace himself,” Vargas recalled. “The car was coming in fast, and then we were hit.”
The impact was severe, propelling Vargas’s tow truck into oncoming lanes. Authorities reported that a woman in the backseat of the sedan was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The driver and a front-seat passenger remain hospitalized with injuries.
Police suspect that intoxication may have played a role in the crash. They noted that the driver of the sedan was reportedly leaving a local bar, and witnesses suggested that racing might have been involved, as another vehicle was seen speeding alongside the sedan.
Despite the chaos, Vargas managed to exit his truck and attempt to assist the occupants of the car, which was nearly engulfed in flames. “I found the woman in the back unresponsive,” he said, reflecting on the scene.
Vargas’s tow truck was totaled in the collision, but he expressed gratitude for his survival. He urged others to drive responsibly, emphasizing the importance of considering the safety of others on the road.
The Houston Police Department, along with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. The identity of the deceased woman has not yet been released.
As the community grapples with the aftermath, Vargas hopes the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of reckless driving.