An off-duty deputy with Harris County Sheriff’s Office is in serious condition after multiple crashes involving motorcycles happened on the Hardy Toll Rd. on Sunday.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced the crash through a social media post around 12:30 p.m.
An off-duty @HCSOTexas deputy has been transported to a hospital in serious condition. The deputy was involved in a crash at the 18100 blk of the Hardy Toll Rd. Preliminary: Six vehicles possibly involved, no fatalities. Crash may have been prompted by
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) September 15, 2024
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Gonzalez the crash happened on the Hardy Toll Rd. between Richey Rd. and Rankin Rd.
The preliminary investigation showed six vehicles possibly involved with no fatalities.
Gonzalez said in the post that the crash may have been prompted by approximately six motorcycles stopping traffic and attempting to take-over the freeway. He said the motorcycle operators were at that the scene. HCSO members were at the hospital to support the deputy.
The crash remains under investigation, but KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel spoke with a witness who said the motorcycles appeared to be racing. Robert Dugal said there were more than six motorcycles. He counted roughly 28 racing-style motorcycles as he watched them zoom down the freeway.
“The first leader was probably 100 yards ahead of the rest of the group, and he was all over the left lane,” Dugal said. “He went so far as almost getting into the median, and he was actually riding on the paint at some point. His curb was so steep. His bike was really leaning down really far. In my rearview mirror, I could see some other motorcycles coming up and approaching pretty fast. They were all doing obviously in excess of 100 miles an hour.”
Dugal said he and his wife feared for their safety.
“Being a former motorcycle rider myself, I don’t like cars making unpredicted moves. So, we stayed where we were. We saw the people behind us started negotiating for lane changes and things like that, and that’s when I saw the first motorcycle go down. I could actually see him rolling down the Hardey Toll Road,” said Dugal.
Dugal said some of the motorcycles continued driving after the crashes.
“The group of motorcycles in the front continued on. There was one motorcycle that passed us after the event, and he was looking back. Obviously, he had seen what had gone on but was not willing to stop. As a motorcycle rider, I find that hard to believe because we always stop and offer assistance, and that wasn’t done,” Dugal said.