Officials in Houston are calling a five-year-old boy a hero for rescuing his brother, two, from a burning tractor trailer following a crash that killed their father.

The 18-wheeler truck was a moving van and the family were relocating to Galveston, Texas, when the crash occurred at around 1.20am.

Police say the boys were passengers in the United Van Lines truck being driven by their father on Interstate 45 when the man lost control of the vehicle, causing it to smash into a guardrail and a metal pillar.

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Horror crash: A father was driving an 18-wheeler carrying his two young sons in Houston when he lost control of the vehicle

Deadly impact: The big rig struck a guardrail and a pillar, flipped over and burst into flames

Scorched: The driver was ejected from the mangled truck and died at the scene

The massive vehicle flipped over and burst into flames. The father was ejected from the truck and was pronounced dead at the scene, reported KPRC.

A preliminary investigation into the crash has found that the driver of the moving truck 'failed to control his speed,' according to Chron.com.

Sgt James Roque, of the Houston Police Department, called the man's five-year-old son 'a trooper,' saying that despite having been thrown from the truck, he was able to give police vital information that helped them piece together what happened.

Roque said the older boy asked about his father.

Both boys were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital. The two-year-old suffered severe burns. His older brother had only minor injuries.

Tiny hero: Police say the man's five-year-old son was able to pull his two-year-old brother from the burning truck

The truck was a moving van and the family were relocating to Galveston, Texas

Police say the children's mother was driving an RV ahead of the 18-wheeler and did not learn of the tragedy until hours later.

Law enforcement officials later reunited the woman with her two children in Houston.