Woman hit, killed by vehicle while checking her tire on I-610 in Houston

HOUSTON – A woman was killed while checking the tire on her vehicle on Thursday night. She was hit by another car on I-610 near Broad Street. This happened a little before 10 p.m.

Houston police said the woman stopped her vehicle in the middle of the freeway, got out of her car, and went to inspect her tire. That’s when she was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

First responders say the woman who died is believed to be in her late 20s to early 30s, and at the time we posted this story, she had not been identified.

The driver who hit the woman showed no signs of intoxication, authorities said.

What to do if you have car trouble on a freeway or highway

Think about safety first. If you’re in a dangerous spot, call 911.

Here are the steps recommended by Triple A if you have car trouble on a busy road:

• Stay calm. Slamming on the brakes or veering across lanes without signaling can be more dangerous than the breakdown itself.
• Try to coast to the side of the road. If you’re on a multi-lane highway, you may have to cross several lanes of traffic. Use your turn signal as you normally would to get to the side of the road, or as close as possible, without unnecessary risks.
• On the highway, take the next exit or get to the right shoulder, if possible. If you’re driving on an interstate or multi-lane highway with medians and an exit or the right shoulder aren’t options, you may also consider the left shoulder, again pulling as far away from traffic as possible.
• Turn on your hazard lights once you’ve come to a stop.

Getting help

If you have a flat tire or car trouble on a freeway or highway in our area, there are ways to get help.

Harris County has an Incident Response Team. It’s available seven days a week between 5 a.m. and midnight. Call: 281-584-7500

The City of Houston’s Tow and Go gets stalled vehicles towed off Houston’s freeways and to a safe location. If you have a good spare and a jack, the wrecker driver will change your flat tire at no cost. If you need to be towed to a specific location, you’ll have to pay for that service. Here’s the Tow and Go number: 713-881-2222

TranStar has the Motorist Assistance Program (MAP) to help people stranded on freeways in Harris County. MAP is available Monday through Friday, around the clock. Their number is: 713-CALL-MAP (713-225-5627)