Here are things to know for Friday, March 18:
1. NTSB: 13-year-old was driving truck that struck van killing 9
Recommended Videos
The investigation into this week’s fiery head-on crash in West Texas now focuses on the revelation that a 13-year-old was driving the pickup truck that struck a van, killing nine people, including six members of a college golf team and their coach.
The young teen, who is still unidentified, and a man traveling in the truck also died.
National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg on Thursday revealed the truck was driven by the child. He said the truck’s left front tire, which was a spare tire, blew out before impact.
The pickup truck crossed into the opposite lane on the darkened, two-lane highway before colliding head-on with the van. Both vehicles burst into flames.
2. Body found in bayou in SW Houston, HPD says
A man’s body has been found in a bayou in southwest Houston, according to police.
Initial details were limited, however, authorities with the Houston Police Department say they received a call about the body around 2:20 p.m. Thursday.
The body was reportedly found in the 5900 block of South Braeswood Boulevard at 9501 Hillcroft, according to HPD.
3. What’s that smell? Cold front steers wildfire smoke toward Houston area
Wondering what that smell was as you walked out the door this morning?
According to KPRC 2 Meteorologist Anthony Yanez, the smoke is coming from the Eastland Complex fire, located 120 miles west of Dallas in West Texas. The fire has now burned over 40,000 acres.
Thursday night’s cold front, plus gusty winds picked up the smoke from the wildfire and steered it towards Houston.
No word on when the smoke or smell will diminish.
4. Texas wildfires fueled by gusty winds prompt evacuations
Low humidity and gusty winds fueled multiple wildfires Friday in Texas, burning homes and other structures and prompting evacuations of small communities.
Several wildfires merged to form what fire officials call a “complex” that was burning near Eastland, about 120 miles (195 kilometers) west of Dallas.
As of Friday morning, the fires had burned about 62.5 square miles (162 square kilometers), according to Texas A&M Forest Service. It was only 2% contained and fires were burning in thick brush and grass fields.
About 18,000 people live in Eastland County, where the large fire was burning.
5. Texas warns firms they could lose state contracts for divesting from fossil fuels
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar sent letters to 19 financial firms Wednesday afternoon to determine whether they were violating a new state law that prohibits companies from “boycotting” fossil fuel companies.
Senate Bill 13, which went into effect in September, prohibits the state from contracting with or investing in companies that divest from oil, natural gas and coal companies. The law defines divestment as refusing to do business with a fossil fuel company because that company does not commit to environmental standards higher than expected by federal and state law.