HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — An off-duty Harris County sheriff's deputy was taken to an area hospital in serious condition after a crash that may have been caused by motorcyclists trying to take over the Hardy Toll Road, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
At around 11:20 a.m. Sunday, an off-duty deputy was going southbound on the Hardy Toll Road main lanes.
The sheriff's office said the deputy advised dispatch that he saw motorcycles on the main lanes before crashes were reported.
At this time, a 40-year-old man was driving a Nissan Pathfinder in the right lane with a flat tire slowly trying to make it to the next exit. A 47-year-old man in a Ford Fiesta was driving in the right lane as well. Behind him was a 35-year-old man in a Nissan Sentra.
The deputy was driving in the middle lane next to the Ford Fiesta.
The sheriff's office said at the same time, multiple motorcycles were reported by witnesses traveling southbound on the Hardy Toll "recklessly, racing and swerving in and out of lanes."
This would cause traffic to slow down as they "lane split" in between vehicles.
The driver of the Ford Fiesta rear-ended the Nissan Sentra. After that impact, the Fiesta rotated facing oncoming traffic and was struck by the Nissan, according to the sheriff's office.
The deputy swerved to avoid crashing and was struck by a Suzuki GSX-R, which was being driven by a 23-year-old man at a high rate of speed.
After impact, a Crown Victoria went over a concrete barrier wall where it flipped and landed on its roof.
The Suzuki was also redirected into the northbound main lanes of the Hardy Toll Road where the motorcycle was struck by a Kia Rio being driven by a 28-year-old woman.
The deputy was transported to a hospital with a possible concussion, according to the sheriff's office.
The 23-year-old and 47-year-old men were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Everyone else was uninjured.
According to the sheriff's office, several of the motorcycle riders stopped and were detained.
The crash is under investigation. At this time charges, may or may not be filed.