At least 3 deaths reported by Houston police during Thursday night’s severe weather

HOUSTON – As the City of Houston continues to recover from Thursday night’s frightening storm, we’re continuing to learn more about how dangerous and deadly it was.

LATEST: ‘We’re in recovery mode’: Storm kills 4 - possibly 5, Houston mayor asks Houstonians to stay home

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Thursday night at least four people died during the storm. KPRC 2 has received information of at least three weather-related deaths, but it’s unclear if these deaths reported by police are part of the deaths Mayor Whitmire referred to.

One of the deaths involved a mother of 4 near Buffalo Bayou around 6:30 p.m., who investigators say went outside to move her SUV out of fear a tree would fall on it. However, before she could actually move it, police said the tree fell on her vehicle, killing her.

MORE: Mother killed by fallen tree in SE Houston near Buffalo Bayou during Thursday’s severe weather

One of the other reports happened less than a mile away, involving a cement truck a little before 6:45 p.m. That’s when police say 2 cranes collapsed during the storm on Wingate and 75th St.

The falling cranes reportedly landed on a cement truck’s cab, killing one of the occupants.

May 17, 2024: Wingate storm damage. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

Their identity was not released, as of this writing, and no other reports of injuries were made to this incident.

Around 10:30 p.m. police were called to another scene on I-45 near Crosstimbers where a pedestrian was hit by a car on the freeway.

Pedestrian killed during heavy thunderstorms Thursday, May 16, 2024 (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

Responding officers said the man died from his injuries but did not provide details on the vehicle that hit him.

SEE ALSO: Damage in downtown Houston following severe thunderstorm

No other reports have been shared, as of this writing, so again, it’s unclear if these three deaths reported are in conjunction with the ones Mayor Whitmire reported. KPRC 2 will continue to share updates as we continue to learn more.


About the Authors

Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.

T.J. Parker joined KPRC 2 in June 2023 and is happy to be back in Houston. Before coming back to the Lone Star State, T.J. was a reporter in Miami at WSVN Channel 7. There he covered all things up and down the south Florida coast.

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