HOUSTON – There were intense moments in north Houston Wednesday morning after a van full of men plunged into White Oak Bayou.
The white work van was traveling on the inbound side of the North Freeway near Cavalcade shortly before 7 a.m. when it jumped the curb, hit the guard rail and rolled down the embankment.
Seven men were in the van when it landed upright in the water. Two of the men climbed on top of the van, while the others were trapped inside.
Eventually, they were pulled to safety by Houston Firefighters and Heavy Rescue, who used a small boat, a ladder and ropes to get to the men.
A couple of the men had to be secured on a stretcher before being carried away. Five of the men were transported to LBJ Hospital, authorities say, and all are expected to survive.
We're told the van was packed with tools and work equipment. HFD says none of the men were wearing seatbelts.
Multiple feeder lanes were blocked as emergency crews worked the scene.
After all of the men were safely removed, crews hoisted the van out of the water.