WEBSTER, Texas – A devastating single-vehicle crash on the Gulf Freeway has claimed the life of a small child and left several others injured after a car carrying nine people, including multiple children, slammed into a concrete barrier Wednesday afternoon.
The tragic incident occurred around 3:54 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in the southbound lanes of Interstate 45, near the NASA Parkway and West Bay Area Boulevard exits. According to the Webster Police Department, a Chevrolet sedan lost control for reasons still under investigation, veering across several lanes of traffic before the catastrophic impact.
Emergency crews, including Webster Police, Fire, and EMS, responded to a chaotic scene. Two Life Flight helicopters were called to transport the critically injured to area hospitals. The collision forced a complete shutdown of the freeway’s southbound lanes for several hours, causing extensive traffic delays as investigators processed the scene.
Webster Police Chief Peter Bacon confirmed on Thursday that a total of nine individuals were in the sedan at the time of the crash. He stated that investigators are still working to formally identify all the occupants and their relationships.
“We have names and approximate ages but still need verified ID on several occupants,” Bacon said in a statement. “Patients were transported to several different Houston-area hospitals, making patient follow-up more time-consuming for investigators.”1
While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Webster Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Team, excessive speed is being considered as a potential factor. Chief Bacon also tragically noted that “many of the occupants, including the children, were not properly restrained.”
The identity of the small child who died has not yet been released by authorities, pending notification of all family members.
“Currently, we do not feel it is appropriate to release the young victim’s name until we have a full understanding of who the occupants are and their relationships,” Bacon2 explained.
The Webster Police Department is collaborating with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office’s Vehicular Crimes Division to ascertain what, if any, charges will be filed. Toxicology reports are also pending.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the crash to contact the Webster Police Department at (281) 332-2426.
