HOUSTON -- A driver sleeping in his car on a freeway was blamed for causing several accidents, officials told KPRC Local 2.

The driver was sleeping in a parked car in the left lane of the North Freeway near West Little York Road at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Several drivers tried to help the driver off the road, but were unable to before several vehicles were involved in accidents, officials said.

Police said one driver swerved to avoid the parked car and was rear-ended by a minivan.

Another driver swerved and struck the parked car, police said.

Officials said the driver of an 18-wheeler attempted to avoid the previous accidents, but ended up hitting the parked car. The 18-wheeler hit a retaining wall and came to a stop in the HOV lane.

The freeway was closed for about three hours while officials cleaned up the mess.

Police said the snoozing driver may have been under the influence of a drug.

The driver was arrested at the scene.

One person involved in the accidents was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.