CONROE, Texas — The two men have been identified after they were killed when a house collapsed as strong storms moved through the Conroe area, according to family members.
One of the men killed was identified by his father as Brayan Rubi Lopez Aguilar, 21. The other victim killed was Angel Gumaro Huerta Pedraza, 35, according to his family.
Family members said Huerta was from Mexico and had lived in the U.S. for more than 15 years working in construction.
A woman who said she was his common-law wife and described him as a happy man who loved to go mudding on his 4-wheeler.
Miriam Ortiz told us Huerta was still healing after breaking both legs on the job back in December. She said he had to go back to work because they needed the money but he was still on crutches. She found the crutches in the pile of rubble.
Other family said two of the other seven workers who were injured in the collapse were his family members.
The men who were injured told them everything happened really fast. They added that six of the seven injured have already been released from the hospital.
What happened
The house collapse happened at a construction site on Pamaneria, near the intersection of Avenue M and Silverdale. The area is a new construction site, so it's not on most maps.
According to authorities, a two-story house that was under construction collapsed while workers were present.
While officials stopped short of saying that the collapse was caused by the storms, Conroe Fire Department officials said they got the call just after the storms passed, around 4 p.m.
When first responders got to the scene, they found nine victims, including the two who didn't survive.
The Conroe Fire Chief said the other seven men were alert and conscious when they were taken to the hospital.
Officials said the house was under construction and appeared to be in the framing stage. The workers who were injured were working on the second floor of the home when it collapsed.
Josue Benitez was working when the house fell. He said he remembers walking outside to take a call from his wife moments before it happened. He said he watched helplessly as the framed home crumbled to the ground.
Benitez sprung into action, lifting wet lumber to help save his co-workers. He said others who were working in nearby homes came to help.
Benitez said it all happened fast, not giving anyone a chance to react.
Here are some photos of the damage left behind by the storms.