Body Of Big Rig Driver Pulled From San Jacinto River

HIGHLANDS, TX — The body of a man whose semi-trailer plunged into the San Jacinto River on Thursday has been recovered, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Friday. Divers made the grim discovery more 36 hours after the fatal crash in east Harris County.

The crash happened at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday in the 2100 block of Interstate 10 East when the driver of the big rig swerved off the bridge to avoid a wrecked vehicle and went over the railing into the murky water.

Update on East Fwy crash: the body of a deceased adult male has been retrieved from the cab of the truck. Sad outcome, but relieved the family will be able to have a proper burial. May he Rest In Peace. #HouNews
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 28, 2019

Divers responded to the area, and were unable to get into the cab that was submerged in silt at the bottom of the river on Thursday. There were other issues, such as the proximity to a Super Fund site, where hazardous waste is store, and how the truck jack-knifed when it crashed head-on into the water.

"The compartment was completely filled with mud," Gonzales said.

Drivers returned Friday morning and worked for hours until they were able to retrieve the man's body from the truck at about 2 p.m. Divers found his body inside the semi-trailer's sleeper compartment. Gonzalez said.

READ ALSO: Big Rig Remains Submerged After Plunge Into San Jacinto River

According to a KTRK report, the driver of the semi-trailer was identified as Steve Martinez, who'd just celebrated his 60th birthday the day before the crash.

Martinez, who was from San Antonio, had been married for 36 years , and leaves behind a daughter, three step children, nine grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and a great-grandson on the way, according to a KTRK report.

Gonzalez said crews will be at the accident site this weekend using heavy equipment to remove the wreckage of the 18-wheeler from the river.

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