Houston North Loop street racing leads to fiery crash, injuries

Houston police are searching for a street racing suspect after a fiery two vehicle crash.  Investigators believe that two cars were racing in the westbound lanes of the North Loop just before the crash.

One of the racing cars, a VW, cut off a tractor trailer while racing.  The 18 wheeler was unable to avoid the car and clipped it.  As a result the VW flipped over and the truck crashed into the middle retaining wall.

The force of the crash caused the big rig to burst into flames, which then ignited its cargo of vehicles.  According to onlookers the fire was so big and so hot that it melted the freeway signs above.

There were four people in the VW that flipped.  One passenger, a woman, had to be taken to Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital with minor injuries.  The driver of the VW was handcuffed at the scene of the collision, and one man tried to run away.

Houston police are searching for the man who fled, as he allegedly threw a bag of marijuana under the retaining wall and may face charges as a result.  The driver of car has not had any charges filed against him yet, although it is likely they will be.

The driver and passenger in the 18 wheeler, a man, his wife, and their three dogs, were able to escape the cab of the truck before it burst into flames.  They were not hurt in the crash.  A HAZMAT truck had to come clean up the scene.