HOUSTON, TEXAS — A CenterPoint Energy employee died Friday after a crash involving a big rig and a CenterPoint Energy utility vehicle on the westbound lanes of the 610 South Loop near Martin Luther King Boulevard, with officials saying the utility truck became trapped and pinned to a light pole as crews worked for nearly two hours to rescue the passenger.

Houston Police said first responders arrived around 9:30 a.m. for a serious collision involving an 18-wheeler and a CenterPoint Energy utility truck on westbound IH-610 South Loop at MLK Boulevard. Images from the scene showed the big rig with front-end damage and the utility vehicle on its side.

According to Sgt. Alejandro with HPD, two men were inside the CenterPoint truck when the driver attempted an unsafe merge and struck the front of the 18-wheeler. Officials said the 18-wheeler then lost control, dragged the utility truck, and pinned it against a light pole.

The Houston Fire Department said both men in the utility truck were trapped. Firefighters freed the driver first, but crews worked for nearly two hours to rescue the passenger. Officials said the driver was not hurt, but the passenger was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead.

CenterPoint Energy issued a statement Friday afternoon confirming that one of its employees involved in the incident had died and said the company was providing support to the employee’s loved ones and team members, while also thanking first responders for their efforts at the scene.

The Texas Department of Transportation said crews assisted with cleanup and traffic control, warning it could take several hours to clear debris and urging drivers to use alternate routes. Houston TranStar reported that all lanes were closed during the investigation, and the mainlanes of the South Loop reopened shortly before 3:00 p.m.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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