Gulf Freeway reopens after fatal crash blocked all lanes for hours

A woman died in in traffic crash Friday morning when she slammed into the back of a dump truck on Interstate 45 in southeast Houston, forcing officials to shut down the freeway for hours.



Photo: Metro Video A woman died in in traffic crash Friday morning when she slammed into the back of a dump truck on Interstate 45 in southeast Houston, forcing officials to shut down the freeway for hours.



Photo: Metro Video Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Gulf Freeway reopens after fatal crash blocked all lanes for hours 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

The Gulf Freeway reopened hours after a woman died in a traffic crash Friday morning when she slammed into the back of a dump truck in southeast Houston, forcing officials to shut down the freeway.

The wreck happened about 2:30 a.m. on the northbound Gulf Freeway near Broadway, said Sgt. James Roque of the Houston Police Department.

Roque said the woman was driving a black sports utility vehicle northbound on the freeway when she tried to pass a dump truck in front of her. As she pulled around the truck, she rammed into the back of another dump truck traveling in the next lane. The woman lost control of the SUV and hit the wall along the freeway.

Witnesses, Roque said, told investigators the woman was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash.

Roque said the woman, whose name has not been released, died at the scene.

The driver of the dump truck that was hit was rushed to Memorial Hermann hospital. Details of his injuries and condition were not released, but Roque said he had non-life-threatening injuries.

The wreck forced officials to block the freeway for more than three hours while crews cleared the scene. The lanes reopened about 6:10 a.m.

Police are investigating the crash.