18-Wheeler Flies Off 249, Plows Into 11 Vehicles Injuring 8

SPRING, TX — Investigators believe the driver of an 18- wheeler may have either blacked out or had a medical emergency before his truck flew off Texas 249 and plowed into vehicles waiting at a traffic signal Saturday morning.

The accident happened at about 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Texas 249 south and Spring-Cypress Road.

Investigators said the driver of an 18-wheeler hauling a flammable liquid drove off the side of the tollway, narrowly missing a guard railing on 249 and plowing through saplings planted along the expressway before crashing into at least 11 vehicles on the feeder road on Spring-Cypress, before crashing into the IHOP sign.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

According to a Tweet from Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, two people were flown by LifeFlight to Memorial Hermann Hospital, and about six others were taken to area hospitals by EMS.

One of those taken by LifeFlight was the driver of the truck, whose identity has still not been released

Investigators closed the southbound 249 feeder road between Northpointe Blvd. and Spring-Cypress Road, for several hours while they conducted their investigation.

Image: The fuel truck that ran off Texas 249, sits up on a tow truck across the street from the accident scene as it is prepared to be moved. Bryan Kirk/Houston Area Patch Editor

Send your news tips to bryan.kirk@patch.com