Lexus driver killed in construction zone crash on Scott Street

A woman was found dead behind the wheel of her black Lexus GS350 early Wednesday morning, apparently the victim of a missing barrier intended to close down a road under construction. The Lexus was discovered heavily damaged, crashed into the rear of a large Komatsu front-end loader. The scene was discovered at around 6:40 a.m. in the 13200 block of Scott Street near Almeda Genoa. Kese Smith, a spokesperson for Houston Police Department, said the engine on the Lexus was cold when the scene was discovered, indicating the crash may have occurred some hours earlier. The woman, whose name has not yet been released, had been heading northbound on Scott Street at the time of the wreck. The portion of the road involved was not open to the public: usually a barrier would be across the roadway, but it apparently had been moved or was not in place when the lady crashed. The Houston Chronicle's report says no signs of alcohol involvement were detected.

The official Houston Police Department press release states the following: "HPD Vehicular Crimes Division Sergeant G. Hall and Senior Police Officer R. Ontiveros reported: The 13200 block of Scott is a new street, currently under construction. While it is paved, it is not open to the public and is barricaded at both ends. Sometime overnight, the victim drove a black Lexus GS350 sedan past the barricades and traveled south in the northbound lanes. She then struck the rear of a large piece of machinery parked in the far east lane. The victim was discovered this morning by workers returning to the job site."

Comments to the Houston Chronicle article, which typically range from sympathetic to rude and insensitive, included the following comment posted under the name "milliecas" at 1:47 p.m. on 12/05/12: "Your rude comments are rude and unwanted! This person DID NOT drink, smoke and was on her way home from work to meet her husband and children! She DID NOT arrive home and her family had been calling and texting her since 8PM last night and had no idea where she was! They learned of her death THIS MORNING when the construction crew found her! She was 2 blocks away from home. Her kids may read these awful comments which are all hurtful and untrue. She was a loving wife, mother and sister, who loved her husband and children dearly and was on her way home to prepare dinner for them and never arrived. Keep your hurtful comments and assumptions to yourselves."

There is no easy time to lose a family member in such a shocking way, but this loss will be particularly hard-felt by the crash victim's family just a few weeks from Christmas. As a husband and father, my condolences.

Photo credit: Cody Duty, Photo Journalist, Houston Chronicle