3 killed, 1 child critically injured when lumber truck slams into cars near Conroe

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – A multi-vehicle crash in which three people were killed and a child was critically injured caused a portion of old Highway 105 to be shut down and traffic diverted for much of Friday afternoon, authorities said. A truck driver who allegedly was intoxicated faces charges in the pileup.

Dusty Currie heard the crash and quickly rushed to the scene to help.

"Everybody was doing what they could but there was no getting the back door open," Currie said.

Investigators say an oversized load was being escorted down the road and had slowed down traffic behind it.

That's when authorities say an 18-wheeler hauling lumber slammed into four vehicles.

Two people died at the scene, a young mother later died at the hospital and her child was flown to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

"She was asking, 'How's my baby, my little boy, how's my baby,'" Currie said.

The driver of the 18-wheeler, 37-year-old Chad Fletcher, was arrested and charged with three counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault.

"This is very sad. Three people are longer here.. A child is without a mother. This does not have to happen. Is this a preventable crash,"  Trooper Erik Burse with DPS said.