CONROE, Texas — The 4-vehicle crash that shut down I-45 in Conroe early Monday started when a truck swerved to avoid hitting a woman walking on the freeway.
Another truck traveling behind the first one, then struck and killed the woman.
Conroe police say the victim, identified as 26-year-old Amy Ambercrombie, was dressed in all black and walking in a main lane when she was hit.
A Montgomery County deputy wasn't able to stop in time and crashed into the first two vehicles. The impact caused a tire on his MCSO Tahoe flew off and struck a fourth vehicle.
It happened around 5:40 a.m. near South Loop 336 and Cartwright Road in Montgomery County.
Views from Air 11 show damage to a deputy's vehicle and another truck.
I-45 was closed for more than three hours during morning rush hour. It reopened just before 9 a.m.
Conroe police say 25 minutes before the accident they got a call about a woman walking in front of cars near the HCA Houston Healthcare ER area about six miles away. They say she matched the description of Abercrombie.
Check back for updates on this developing story.