Driver dies after 18-wheeler plummets from Ship Channel Bridge on East Loop 610

Houston Police and Fire departments respond to a scene where an 18-wheeler drove off the Sidney Sherman Bridge 610, and fell onto Concrete Street below Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in Houston. Houston Police and Fire departments respond to a scene where an 18-wheeler drove off the Sidney Sherman Bridge 610, and fell onto Concrete Street below Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in Houston. Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, Staff Photographer Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Driver dies after 18-wheeler plummets from Ship Channel Bridge on East Loop 610 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

The driver of an 18-wheeler that drove off the Ship Channel Bridge from East Loop 610 has been pronounced dead, according to Houston police.

The crash was reported around 8:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Concrete Drive.

The man was pinned in the semi as firefighters were working to saw him out of the cab, authorities said. Police said the driver fell off the highway after he tried to avoid a smaller car that cut him off in traffic.

The driver of the smaller car was on the scene Wednesday afternoon, as well as a witness. No other injuries were reported in the crash, police said.

The truck was carrying non-toxic sauces, police said. Traffic is backed up to Interstate 45 because of the crash, and authorities are asking people to avoid the area.

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.