HOUSTON — A series of three separate crashes led to the deaths of at least four people, according to the Houston Police Department.
The first crash happened around 9 p.m. at Telephone Road and Santa Fe Drive when a driver crashed into a pole.
Police said the victim cut through a parking lot and was trying to turn right onto Telephone Road when he lost control of the car and crashed into the pole. The black Ford Fusion then burst into flames. A witness nearby managed to pull the driver out, but the 62-year-old man later died at the hospital.
At the scene, police said they could not confirm if his injuries were from the crash or another incident. The victim's name hasn't been released.
Then 45 minutes after that crash, Houston police responded to a second crash where a driver slammed into a TxDOT exit sign.
The impact was so violent that the car split in half. It happened at 9:45 p.m. at Fondren Road and Main Street.
Witnesses told HPD that the driver of the BMW was speeding around other cars before the crash.
Both the driver and the passenger, ages 22 and 23, were killed. Their names haven't been released.
Then a third crash happened an hour later at Westheimer Road and Greenridge Drive.
Police said the driver of an SUV hit and killed a man who was crossing the street just before 11 p.m.
The 60-year-old victim died at the scene.
HPD said they don't believe the 24-year-old driver was intoxicated and he was released without charges.
The investigation continues.