Ernesto Lopez Killed in Crash with Wrecker Trucks on West Loop in Houston, TX
UPDATE (December 12, 2022): Authorities have identified the Jeep driver killed in this accident as 49-year-old Ernesto Lopez. 21-year-old Arllette Anahi Reyes was also identified as the driver of the disabled Lexus SUV on the West Loop.
Houston, TX — December 8, 2022, one person died in a late-night collision with two wrecker trucks on the West Loop in Houston.
Authorities say the incident happened around 2:00 a.m. along the southbound West Loop near Westheimer Road in the Galleria area. Preliminary information suggests two wrecker trucks were stopped behind a stalled Lexus RX300 SUV in the roadway. While trying to remove the SUV one wrecker was hit by a southbound Jeep Cherokee and pushed into the other truck.
The Jeep driver died in the collision. No other injuries were reported.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Ernesto Lopez Accident in Houston
UPDATE (December 12, 2022): Recent reports identifying one party in the crash also alleged she may have been impaired. It's unclear whether that was part of how she ended up stopped in the roadway, but hopefully that's just one of many details investigators are still trying to work out. There are still more questions than answers here and the victim's loved ones deserve no less than the whole story. One way or another I certainly hope they get it.
ORIGINAL: There's no telling at this point who or what was responsible for this accident. People may read the few available details and say the driver who allegedly plowed into those trucks seems a likely candidate, but keep in mind we have no idea how or why their vehicle went out of control. Anyone inclined to blame speeding, distraction from a phone, or (for the more cynical) intoxication should try instead to withhold judgment until more facts are available.
Any accident that takes a life is one deserving of a full investigation. At the very least someone's loved ones deserve to know the reason for their terrible loss. Will police efforts alone be enough to get them some badly-needed answers?
