Tag Archives: Texas News

Investigations, Rebecca Beard, Texas Cold Cases, True Crime

Texas Public Information Act Request: Dash Camera Released, Body Camera Pending

Leave a comment
Raw dash camera image released through a Texas Public Information Act request showing a Brazoria County sheriff’s deputy speaking with individuals during a May 11, 2026 encounter related to the Rebecca Beard investigation.
Screenshot from the dash camera video released by Brazoria County in response to a Texas Public Information Act request. The recording contains no audio. The requested body camera video remains pending while the Texas Attorney General reviews whether it may be withheld.

Texas Public Information Act Request Leads to Dash Camera Release While Body Camera Remains Under Review

The Brazoria County Criminal District Attorney’s Office released the dash camera recording in response to my Texas Public Information Act request. The responding deputy’s body camera recording remains under review by the Texas Attorney General.

Redactions LetterDownload

Page one of the Brazoria County Criminal District Attorney’s Office response confirming my public information request, payment, and the release of the dash camera recording while the requested body camera recording remains under review by the Texas Attorney General.

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Transparency matters. That is why I filed a Texas Public Information Act request after an encounter with a woman connected to the Rebecca Beard investigation.

The request resulted in sheriff’s reports, dispatch records, redacted documents, and dash camera video. However, one important record remains unavailable. The Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office has asked the Texas Attorney General to decide whether the responding deputy’s body camera can be withheld.

This article explains what happened, what the released records show, and why I continue to seek the body camera recording.

Why I Went to the Property

As an investigative reporter, I believe everyone deserves an opportunity to comment before publication.

I went to Cherie “Rio” Starr’s residence to request an interview about statements she has made regarding the Rebecca Beard investigation.

She declined to comment.

According to the incident report, Starr told deputies she was a protected witness and wanted to know how I obtained her personal information.

The report also states she believed someone had sent me to her property.

I Returned to My Jeep

After Starr declined to comment, I walked back to my Jeep because I intended to leave.

According to the sheriff’s report, I told deputies that Starr and Kenneth Cadenhead prevented me from leaving the property.

The dashcam video released by Brazoria County contains no audio. Therefore, it cannot capture the conversations that occurred during the encounter.

However, the video does show Starr standing near my driver’s side while Cadenhead remained behind my Jeep during part of the incident.

According to my recollection, both were asking me to identify my confidential source.

I declined.

Why I Would Not Reveal My Source

The incident report notes that I refused to identify my source.

That decision was intentional.

Protecting confidential sources is a long-standing practice in investigative journalism. Sources often provide information only because they trust reporters to keep their identities confidential.

My purpose that day was to request an interview. It was not to disclose who provided information for my reporting.

A Detail Not Included in the Report

One part of the encounter is not reflected in the written incident report.

According to my recollection, while standing near my driver’s side door, Starr told me she would agree to an interview “when this is all over.”

She also indicated that the Rebecca Beard investigation remained an active case that had never been closed.

Because the released dashcam has no audio, viewers cannot hear that conversation.

For that reason, I continue to seek release of the responding deputy’s body camera recording.

What the Public Records Show

My Texas Public Information Act request produced several records, including:

Sheriff’s incident reports
Dispatch and CAD records
Dashcam video
Redacted documents

The only major record that has not been released is the deputy’s body camera.

The District Attorney’s Office has asked the Texas Attorney General to determine whether that recording may be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.

Receiving a request for an Attorney General ruling does not automatically mean the recording will never be released. The Attorney General will determine whether any exceptions to disclosure apply under Texas law.

How I Obtained the Records

Many people ask how to request police records in Texas.

In my case, I submitted a Texas Public Information Act request to Brazoria County.

After receiving a cost estimate, I paid the required fee at the Brazoria County Treasurer’s Office inside the courthouse.

The courthouse is beautiful, although locating the correct office can be a little confusing for first-time visitors.

After payment was processed, I went to the District Attorney’s Office to pick up the responsive records.

Everyone I dealt with during the process was courteous and helpful.

I also received more records than I expected.

Part Two Is Coming Soon

In Part Two, I will explain the Texas Public Information Act process step by step.

I will also show:

How to submit an open records request
Where to pay the required fees
How to pick up responsive records
Why some records are released immediately while others require a ruling from the Texas Attorney General

Understanding the process can help anyone request public records in Texas.

⸻

Related Investigations

⸻

Equipment I Use

For field reporting and investigative journalism, I rely on equipment that performs well in demanding conditions.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you.

Investigations, Rebecca Beard, True Crime

Rebecca Beard Case: Why Wasn’t Paul Taylor’s Home Investigated After John Cone’s Report?

Leave a comment
Historic black-and-white photograph of Paul Taylor’s former Clute home, featured in an article examining why investigators did not immediately secure or process the property after John Cone reported an alleged confession in the Rebecca Beard case.
The former Clute home where Paul Taylor lived became a focus of later investigative records after John Cone reported that Taylor allegedly confessed to killing Rebecca Beard. The article examines why available records do not document an immediate crime scene search or forensic processing of the property following that report.

Rebecca Beard Case: Why Wasn’t Paul Taylor’s Home Investigated After John Cone’s Report?

Reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Police records raise new questions

Nearly 40 years after Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared, police records raise a question that remains unanswered.

If Sheriff Joe King received details of an alleged confession from John Cone shortly after Becky vanished, why don’t the records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose document an immediate search or forensic examination of Paul Taylor’s home?

The question stands out because later investigative summaries describe a series of events that, if accurate, pointed investigators toward Taylor’s residence within days of Becky’s disappearance.

John Cone said Taylor admitted killing Becky

Investigative synopsis from the Rebecca Beard case stating that John Cone told investigators Paul Taylor admitted killing Rebecca Beard, contacted Brazoria County Sheriff Joe King, and asked that both his identity and the account remain confidential.
This investigative synopsis states that John Cone reported an alleged confession by Paul Taylor to Sheriff Joe King shortly after Rebecca Beard disappeared. According to the document, Cone asked King to keep both the information and his identity confidential. The synopsis also states King later advised Freeport Police that Taylor should be investigated, raising questions about what investigative steps followed.

According to a later investigative synopsis, John Cone told investigators that Paul Taylor admitted Becky died inside his Clute home.

Cone’s statement says Taylor claimed he picked Becky up after she left a club, took her to his residence, and that she died after a gun discharged during a struggle.

Taylor allegedly told Cone he cleaned the residence, removed the bed and carpet because they contained blood, and discarded them in dumpsters.

Cone also said he entered Taylor’s home himself and noticed the bed and carpet were gone.

According to the records, Cone then contacted Brazoria County Sheriff Joe King and reported what Taylor allegedly told him.

Cone reportedly offered Sheriff Joe King a key

Investigative document summarizing John Cone’s statement in the Rebecca Beard case. The document states that Paul Taylor allegedly confessed to Cone, that Cone reported the information to Sheriff Joe King, and that Cone offered the sheriff a key to Taylor’s home after noticing the bed and carpet were missing.
This investigative document summarizes John Cone’s account, including his claim that Paul Taylor allegedly confessed to killing Rebecca Beard. According to the document, Cone said he entered Taylor’s home, noticed the bed and carpet were missing, and later offered Sheriff Joe King a key to the residence. The document raises questions about what investigative steps followed after that information reached law enforcement.

One detail stands out in Cone’s statement.

Cone said he offered Sheriff Joe King a key to Taylor’s residence.

He also asked the sheriff to keep both the conversation and his identity confidential.

The investigative synopsis later states that King agreed to keep the information confidential.

According to that same synopsis, Sheriff King informed Freeport Police Chief Charles Bankston on March 14, 1986, that Paul Taylor needed to be investigated but did not relate the details Cone had provided.

Taylor was interviewed that day. The synopsis states investigators learned only that Taylor knew Becky.

Where is the documented crime scene investigation?

The records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose do not document that investigators immediately searched Paul Taylor’s residence or processed it as a possible crime scene.

The records also do not document officers collecting physical evidence, photographing the interior, looking for blood evidence, seizing the reportedly missing bed or carpet, or tracing the dumpsters where Taylor allegedly said he discarded evidence.

Those questions remain central to understanding the early investigation. The records reviewed for this report do not document that investigators immediately completed those investigative steps after John Cone reported what Taylor allegedly told him.

Those questions remain central to understanding the early investigation. The records reviewed for this report do not document that investigators immediately completed those investigative steps after John Cone reported what Taylor allegedly told him.

Another report raised similar concerns

The records contain another development one month later.

An April 16, 1986 report states the manager of Excaliber Club told investigators about another conversation involving Taylor.

According to the report, another witness claimed Taylor said he picked up a woman from the club, took her home, shot her, buried her body, cut up the mattress and discarded it in dumpsters.

The same report states Matt Cone checked Taylor’s residence and found the bed no longer had a mattress. Cotton stuffing reportedly remained on the floor.

Even then, the records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose do not document that officers immediately processed the residence as a homicide scene.

Another inconsistency emerges

Side-by-side images from the Rebecca Beard investigation showing a police report documenting Beaver (Arch) Aplin’s statement, a later investigative summary, and Rebecca Beard’s personal planner. The documents appear to present different timelines about when Aplin last saw Rebecca.

These records compare early police reports, a later investigative summary, and Rebecca Beard’s personal planner. One report states Beaver (Arch) Aplin last saw Rebecca on February 14, while a later investigative summary lists him among witnesses who reportedly saw her at Excalibur on the night she disappeared. The differing timelines raise questions about how investigators reconciled those statements during the investigation.

While reviewing the early investigation, another issue surfaced.

Police reports appear to contain conflicting information about Beaver (Arch) Aplin’s timeline.

One report says Aplin told investigators he had not seen Becky since February 14, 1986.

A later investigative report identifies Aplin as one of several people reportedly present at Excaliber on the night Becky disappeared.

That apparent inconsistency raises another question.

Did investigators ever reconcile those differing accounts?

That question will be examined in Part 2 of this series.

Questions that remain

The records reviewed for this article leave several unanswered questions:

Why wasn’t Taylor’s residence immediately documented as a potential crime scene after John Cone reported an alleged confession?
Did Sheriff Joe King ever use the key Cone reportedly offered?
Were investigators ever able to locate the missing bed, carpet or mattress?
If those items were never recovered, how much potential evidence may have been lost?

Nearly four decades later, those questions remain central to understanding the early investigation into Rebecca Beard’s disappearance.

⸻

Internal links

Why I Traveled to Arizona to Interview Arch Aplin
Rebecca Beard family meeting with investigators

Amazon recommendations

True Crime Investigation Notebook

Keep detailed notes while following complex investigations. A structured notebook makes it easier to compare timelines, witness statements and evidence.

⸻

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Your support helps fund my investigative reporting and allows me to continue researching and publishing stories like this one.

Breaking News, Investigations, Rebecca Beard, Texas Cold Cases, True Crime

Rebecca Beard Family Questions Claims Paul Taylor Declined Legal Representation

Leave a comment
Paul Taylor Jr. booking photo taken during the investigation into the Rebecca Beard case.
Paul Taylor Jr. booking photo from the investigation into the 1986 disappearance and murder of Rebecca Beard. His recent prison messages are compared with statements discussed during a meeting with Rebecca Beard’s family regarding legal representation.

Rebecca Beard Family Questions Statements About Paul Taylor and Legal Representation

Autographed 1985 promotional photo of Rebecca Beard with a handwritten inscription reading, “To John, Love Always, Becky Beard.”
An autographed 1985 photo of Rebecca Beard inscribed, “To John, Love Always, Becky Beard.” The image is included in the Beard family’s article examining conflicting accounts about Paul Taylor Jr. and legal representation.

The family of Rebecca Beard says newly reviewed prison messages from Paul Taylor raise questions about statements made during a meeting with Brazoria County officials regarding legal representation and the Texas Innocence Project.

According to Rebecca Beard’s sister, Carol Mize, family members met with officials to discuss developments in the decades-old murder case. During that meeting, participants discussed whether Taylor had been offered legal representation.

Carol Mize Says Officials Claimed Paul Taylor Declined Legal Representation

According to Carol Mize, participants at the meeting stated that Paul Taylor had been offered legal representation but declined the offer.

That statement prompted questions from the Beard family after reviewing messages Taylor later sent from prison.

Paul Taylor’s Messages Tell a Different Story

Screenshots of prison messages sent by Paul Taylor Jr. that are compared with statements discussed during a meeting with Rebecca Beard’s family regarding legal representation and the Texas Innocence Project.

In a message provided to the Beard family, Taylor wrote:

“I HAVE NO ATTORNEY OR FUNDS!”

He also wrote:

“NO ONE HAS EVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT RIGHTS, HELP, OR TEXAS INNOCENT PROJECT!!”

Taylor added that he was unaware of a sealed case document, writing:

“DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CASE SEALED…”

In a more recent message to Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, Taylor wrote:

“I MEAN NO DISRESPECT TO YOU and (REDACTED) ! BUT I’LL GIVE A STATEMENT WHEN THIS IS OVER!!”

Conflicting Accounts Raise New Questions

Carol Mize and a Texas DPS missing persons bulletin for Rebecca Beard shown together as conflicting accounts continue to raise questions in the Rebecca Beard case.

Carol Mize says officials stated Paul Taylor declined legal representation that had been offered to him. Taylor’s prison messages later presented a different account, raising new questions in the Rebecca Beard case.

According to Carol Mize, officials stated during the meeting that Paul Taylor declined legal representation that had been offered to him.

Taylor’s own written messages present a different account. In those messages, he states that he has no attorney, no funds, and was never contacted about rights, legal help, or the Texas Innocence Project.

At this time, Tammy Rose has not independently verified which account is accurate. The article reflects statements made during the meeting, as described by Carol Mize, alongside Taylor’s own written messages.

Editor’s Note

This article is based on statements made during a meeting attended by Rebecca Beard’s family, as described by Carol Mize, and on messages attributed to Paul Taylor. The statements represent differing accounts and are presented to accurately reflect what each party said.

⸻

If you enjoy following long-term investigations and behind-the-scenes reporting, check out the gear I personally use in the field and while traveling.

view on amazon

⸻

If you’re fascinated by unsolved mysteries and criminal investigations, browse my collection of recommended true crime books covering some of the most compelling cases ever investigated.

view on amazon

⸻

Related Articles:

• Rebecca Beard Timeline: Key Events in the 1986 Disappearance

• Rebecca Beard Case: Public Records, Confessions, and Investigation Updates

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Breaking News, Investigations, John Gabriel Mendoza Jr.

Brazoria County Seeks to Withhold Records on Outside Counsel

Leave a comment

The requested records involve outside attorneys hired by Brazoria County in connection with the John Mendoza Jr. shooting investigation.

Public records request and Brazoria County DA letter seeking to withhold records in the John Mendoza Jr. shooting investigation.
July 2, 2026: Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office notified requester Kevin Henry that it was asking the Texas Attorney General to determine whether records related to outside legal counsel could be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.

Brazoria County DA Asks Texas Attorney General to Withhold Records on Outside Counsel Hired After John Mendoza Jr. Shooting

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Why did Brazoria County hire outside legal counsel following the fatal shooting of John Mendoza Jr., and why is the District Attorney now asking the Texas Attorney General to keep those records from the public?

Those are questions at the center of a new Texas Public Information Act dispute after podcast host Kevin Henry requested documents related to outside attorneys retained by Brazoria County following the officer-involved shooting.

The records request seeks documents that would show:

The attorney engagement letter.

The scope of legal representation.

Financial terms of the agreement.

Communications regarding hiring outside counsel.

Authority used to retain the attorneys.

Invoices and payment records.

According to the request, the records involve outside attorney Norman Giles and the law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in connection with matters involving John Mendoza Jr., John Mendoza Sr., and attorney Charles Adams.

DA Requests Attorney General Ruling

July 2, 2026 Brazoria County District Attorney letter requesting a Texas Attorney General ruling on whether records related to outside legal counsel may be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.
On July 2, 2026, the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office notified Kevin Henry that it was seeking a Texas Attorney General ruling on whether records related to outside legal counsel could be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.

Instead of immediately releasing the records, Brazoria County Criminal District Attorney Tom Selleck notified the Texas Attorney General that his office intends to seek permission to withhold portions of the requested information.

In the July 2, 2026 letter, the DA cites several exceptions under the Texas Public Information Act, including:

Confidential information

Litigation exception

Law enforcement exception

Agency memoranda

The Attorney General will ultimately determine whether those claimed exemptions apply.

Kevin Henry Challenges the County’s Position

Portrait of Kevin Henry, host of The Kevin Henry Podcast, who filed the Texas Public Information Act request seeking records related to outside legal counsel in the John Mendoza Jr. investigation.
Kevin Henry filed the public records request seeking contracts, invoices, communications, and related records concerning outside legal counsel hired by Brazoria County in connection with the John Mendoza Jr. investigation. The Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office later notified him it was seeking a Texas Attorney General ruling on whether some of those records could be withheld.

Kevin Henry argues the requested documents involve public expenditures rather than protected legal advice.

In his filing, he contends that:

Engagement letters for outside legal services are generally public records.

Financial terms of public contracts are typically subject to disclosure.

Outside counsel was retained before litigation was filed.

The public has a strong interest in understanding how taxpayer money is being spent following the fatal shooting.

Henry also argues that disclosure is particularly important because the request concerns the death of John Mendoza Jr. during an encounter with a Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputy.

Why This Matters

When government agencies retain outside attorneys, taxpayers often pay those legal expenses.

The records requested could provide additional information about:

When outside counsel was hired.

What work the attorneys were retained to perform.

How much taxpayers may ultimately pay.

The legal scope of the representation.

Whether those documents remain confidential now rests with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

What Happens Next

The Attorney General will review both Brazoria County’s arguments for withholding the records and Kevin Henry’s response opposing those claims.

If the Attorney General orders disclosure, Brazoria County may be required to release some or all of the requested documents. If the ruling favors the county, portions of the records could remain withheld.

I’ll continue following this public records dispute and provide updates as additional filings become available.

The Texas Attorney General will now determine whether the requested records must be released or whether the county may lawfully withhold some or all of them under the Texas Public Information Act.

More John Mendoza Jr. Coverage: Follow my ongoing investigative reporting into the John Mendoza Jr. shooting, including public records requests, legal filings, the outside counsel controversy, attorney statements, and previous developments in the case.

Recommended Reporting Gear

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Every purchase made through these links helps support my independent investigative reporting and allows me to continue covering stories like this one. Thank you for your support.

Reporting Equipment I Use & Recommend:

🎤 Voice Recorder

📷 Body Camera

📻 Police Scanner

Breaking News, Investigations, John Gabriel Mendoza Jr.

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. Investigation: State Reports Raise New Questions

Leave a comment
Featured image for an investigative news article about John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. showing his football photo alongside Texas Attorney General custodial death reports highlighting the manner of death and differing language in official records.
Newly released Texas Attorney General reports raise new questions in the investigation into the fatal shooting of John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. The Texas Rangers investigation remains ongoing.

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. Investigation

The John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. investigation continues to raise new questions after newly released Texas Attorney General state reports provided additional details about the fatal June 1 shooting in Lake Jackson. The documents describe the same incident but use different wording in several key sections.

The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office submitted both a Custodial Death Report and a Peace Officer Involved Injuries or Death Report to the Texas Attorney General. While the Texas Rangers continue investigating the John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. case, the newly released records highlight differences in how the incident was documented.

Both reports describe the same incident. However, they use different wording in several sections while the Texas Rangers continue their investigation.

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. Investigation: Reports Describe the Same Incident 

Both reports identify Mendoza as the 18-year-old who died after a deputy attempted a traffic stop that ended at a residence on Indian Warrior Trail in Lake Jackson.

According to the records, Mendoza drove into a garage attached to a home after deputies attempted to stop him.

The reports state the deputy was on duty and involved in a pursuit after Mendoza allegedly failed to stop.

Custodial Death Report Lists Homicide

Texas Attorney General Custodial Death Report identifying John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. and listing the official manner and cause of death in the Lake Jackson investigation.
The Texas Attorney General Custodial Death Report identifies John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. and includes the official manner and cause of death submitted by the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office.

The Custodial Death Report lists the manner of death as:

Homicide (includes Justifiable Homicide).

Medical examiners use that classification when one person causes another person’s death. The classification does not determine whether a crime occurred or whether criminal charges are appropriate.

The report lists the medical cause of death as a gunshot wound that entered through the left upper extremity into the torso.

It also identifies the weapon as a handgun.

Incident Summary Uses the Word “Discharged”

Texas Attorney General Custodial Death Report summary describing the fatal shooting of John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. and stating that the deputy’s firearm discharged while approaching the driver.
The incident summary in the Texas Attorney General Custodial Death Report states that the deputy’s firearm discharged while approaching John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. The report does not explain what caused the firearm to discharge.

One section of the Custodial Death Report states:

“When entering the garage approaching the driver, the deputy’s firearm discharged and a bullet struck the driver.”

The report does not explain why the firearm discharged or whether investigators have determined if the discharge was intentional, accidental, or the result of another circumstance.

Reports Use Different Language About a Weapon

Texas Attorney General Peace Officer Involved Injuries or Death Report stating that John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. carried, exhibited, or used a deadly weapon during the incident.
A separate Texas Attorney General report states that John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. “carried, exhibited, or used a deadly weapon.” The report does not identify the weapon or explain why this wording differs from the Custodial Death Report.

One section of the Custodial Death Report asks whether Mendoza displayed or used a weapon during the incident.

The answer listed is:

Unknown.

However, the separate Peace Officer Involved Injuries or Death Report includes a different description.

That report states the injured or deceased person:

“Carried, exhibited, or used a deadly weapon.”

Neither report explains the apparent difference in wording or identifies the weapon referenced in that section.

The records also do not describe when investigators reached those conclusions or whether additional evidence remains under review.

Deputy Was Not Responding to a Call

The Peace Officer Involved Injuries or Death Report states the deputy was not responding to a call for service when the incident began.

Instead, the report states the encounter occurred during a pursuit involving a suspect who was allegedly evading arrest or detention using a motor vehicle.

The report identifies the deputy as a 29-year-old male who was on duty at the time of the shooting.

Investigation Continues

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. poses in his Brazoswood High School football uniform with a family member before his death.
John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. is pictured in his Brazoswood High School football uniform before the June 1, 2026, incident in Lake Jackson. The Texas Rangers continue to investigate the fatal deputy-involved shooting.

The Custodial Death Report states emergency personnel treated Mendoza before transporting him to a local hospital, where he later died.

The report also confirms that the Texas Rangers, working with the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office, continue investigating the shooting.

Neither report reaches a conclusion about criminal responsibility or explains what caused the deputy’s firearm to discharge.

As the investigation moves forward, the newly released state records answer some questions while raising others about the events inside the garage on June 1.

Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose contacted the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office for comment regarding the newly released state records. No response had been received at the time of publication.

⸻

Related Coverage

Texas Rangers affidavit and scanner audio timeline

Deputy fired following policy violations

⸻

Amazon Recommendation

On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman – Understanding the psychological effects of deadly force.

Amazon Associate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Breaking News, Investigations

Two Deadly West Houston Crashes Shut Down I-10 and Highway 6

Leave a comment
Overturned 18-wheeler and emergency crews at a deadly crash on Interstate 10 inbound near Highway 6 in west Houston.
Emergency crews respond after a deadly crash involving an 18-wheeler on Interstate 10 inbound near Highway 6 in west Houston. Photo: Tammy Rose 

Two Deadly Crashes Snarl Traffic Across West Houston

Two deadly crashes kept first responders busy across west Houston Wednesday morning, shutting down major roadways and creating long traffic delays.

The first crash happened around 5 a.m. on the inbound lanes of Interstate 10 near Eldridge Parkway.

According to authorities, an 18-wheeler and another vehicle collided, causing a fire. Two people died at the scene.

Investigators closed all inbound lanes near Dairy Ashford while crews worked to clear the wreckage. Traffic backed up for several miles, stretching toward Kingsland Boulevard during the morning commute.

Police pursuit ends in fatal Highway 6 crash

Emergency crews investigate a deadly crash following a police pursuit on southbound Highway 6 near the Westpark Tollway in west Houston. Photo: Tammy Rose Reports.
Emergency crews investigate a deadly crash following a police pursuit on southbound Highway 6 near the Westpark Tollway in west Houston. Photo: Tammy Rose 

A second deadly crash occurred on Highway 6 southbound near the Westpark Tollway.

Photos from the scene show heavy damage to both an HPD patrol vehicle and another vehicle following what authorities described as the end of a police pursuit.

Officials confirmed the incident was fatal. Based on available information, the deceased was not the Houston police officer. Authorities have not yet released additional details about the person who died or the events leading up to the crash.

The investigation remained active as officers documented the scene and worked to reopen the roadway.

Investigation continues

Authorities continue investigating both crashes. Additional information, including the identities of those involved, is expected after next-of-kin notifications and the completion of the preliminary investigations.

For more breaking news, click here.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Emergency Vehicle Escape Tool

First Aid Kit for Vehicles

Dash Camera

Roadside Emergency Safety Kit