Houston Harte Closed After Denali Full of Kids Rolls in Hit-and-Run Crash

Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, a compact red pickup, either a Ford Ranger or Nissan, caused a multi-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of the Houston Harte Expy near the Garfield St. exit, police said. The driver of the red pickup fled the scene and police are searching for the truck and driver.

On the freeway, police said that the red pickup clipped a Chevrolet Suburban in the front, causing the Suburban driver to lose control and run into a grass median.

On it’s way across to the median, the Suburban collided with a late model GMC Denali.

The Denali rolled over as a result of the impact, coming to a rest in the grass next to the roadway.

As police investigated the crash, a long traffic jam formed in the westbound lanes. At 4:45 p.m. a secondary crash happened caused by the traffic jam. Police decided to close all westbound lanes of the Houston Harte.

Inside the Denali was an adult female and three children. No one was injured, police said.

The driver of the Suburban, the only occupant, escaped injury as well.

Police said that no citations were issued for the SUV drivers. Police expect charges and citations will be filed against the fleeing red pickup driver, when they catch him (or her).

East of this crash scene, one person was sent to the hospital with minor injuries. There, a Pontiac Grand Am and VW Beetle collided.