May 23, 2008 - SUV Crashes with Semi, Killing 3 in TX

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Three men died when their Chevrolet Suburban crashed into an 18-wheeler early Friday morning. Sheriff’s deputies from Harris County, Texas, said the collision occurred at around 2:30 a.m., when the driver of the SUV ran a red light and smashed into a moving semi.

"It is very catastrophic," Sgt. S. Wolverton said. "(The Suburban) struck the side of the 18-wheeler, went completely under the 18-wheeler. It ripped the entire top of the Suburban off of the vehicle. The three Hispanic males in the Suburban were pronounced deceased at the scene," he said.

The Suburban's driver was 23 years old and the two passengers were 21 and 22 years old. Two of the men in the SUV were decapitated, detectives said. Wolverton said the SUV was moving at a very high rate of speed. "I would estimate at least 80 (mph) and possibly 100 (mph) or faster," he said. "They were going really fast."

Although there were no eyewitnesses to the crash, detectives plan to review video from cameras located near the intersection where the crash occurred.

Detectives said the collision was one of the worst they had ever been called to investigate. "I've seen some bad wrecks, but this ranks right up with as bad as it gets," Wolverton said.