A good Samaritan managed to save a dog from a burning car after a fiery accident on the east Loop that killed two people.
The road was closed for three hours while officials investigated the northeast Houston accident.
Rucks Russell's report
Investigators say the victims, a man and woman, were inside a burgundy Buick and were moving slowly on the southbound side of the 610 East Loop and Clinton.
Accident on the southbound lanes of the 610 east Loop at Clinton has traffic stopped.
It happened just before 1 p.m. Monday.
When emergency crews arrived on the scene they could see smoke coming from one of the vehicles.
Witnesses tell police the accident occurred when the driver of a two-door Honda hit the couple's car at a high rate of speed.
The Buick, they say, was pushed into a concrete barrier and then burst into flames.
Several drivers stopped and tried to pull the couple out of the burning vehicle, but the flames proved to be too much.
"I ran up and I tried to grab his arms, but he was fraying the flames away from his hair" said Rick Coglianese.
He was was among those who tried to save the couple inside. "I reached in and grabbed him and tried to pull him, but I couldn't get him to budge. Couldn't get him to budge at all."
The victims, officials say, were charred beyond recognition.
Passerbys did manage to save a dog that was inside the burning vehicle.
"I hard a bunch of yelping and screaming, it sounded like a little baby. I said somebody else is in this car," said Coglianese.
Domingo Ruiz saw that a dog was making all that noise and pulled it out. "I went on this other side and I opened the door on the other side and it just so happens that a little dog stuck his head out. I pulled him out."
The woman driving the Honda was taken to an area hospital.
She's expected to be ok.
The accident caused traffic to come to a standstill.
It would be an hour before vehicles were allowed through.
As for the dog, officials say it suffered some burns, but should get help at the SPCA.
What a tragic accident! I am glad to see that not every ife involved in the accident perish.
Can you keep us posted on the dog and if the family members come to get him? Or perhaps the man that saved him will take him since he had to put his dog to sleep that morning?
What a horrible horrible tragedy!! I am so thankful that the little dog was saved!! I too am anxious to hear a followup on the little dog - hoping someone he knows will step up and give him a home! Hes been through enough trauma! But if thats not possible, I am praying he will find a good home. I too had thought about the man who helped saved him - and the fact that he just had to put his dog to sleep!! I am sorry for his loss also!!
This is tragic, I hope the other driver is ok and will face charges! If the dog has no other family, my family and I live in Lufkin and have a huge backyard and will take it as a member of our family. Keep us posted.
I read in the Chronicle this a.m. that the SPCA workers have nicknamed him Phoenix! Also read in that no one has stepped forward to clain the little fella! Hope SPCA workers are giving him lots of love to help him through the trauma of the accident!!
The little dog was given to the passerby who saved his life.
What is the status of the dog? Where the owners ever identified?