Hurricane Beryl death toll: 22 killed in Houston-area by fallen trees, flooding, fire
HOUSTON - 22 deaths have been reported in the Greater Houston area after Hurricane Beryl tore through Southeast Texas, according to the latest report on Tuesday, July 16.
Of those deaths, three people were killed by fallen trees, one died in a fire, two drowned, and a public servant died after becoming trapped in his vehicle in floodwaters, officials say.
High water crossing at 2600 North Main Street
Houston police report a 77-year-old man was attempting to drive across a bridge at White Oak Bayou. It appears the man drove onto a curb in order to cross the high water but the bayou's current pushed the man's car against the wall, submerging the vehicle.
HPD employee dies in floodwaters
Houston Mayor John Whitmire says a Tier 1 civilian employee of the Houston Police Department died on Monday while driving to work near 300 Houston Avenue.
According to the mayor, he was coming off of I-45 when he got into floodwaters at the Houston Avenue underpass. The mayor says the employee called HPD for help, but tragically, he died in his submerged vehicle.
Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite identified the employee as Information Security Officer Russell Richardson. The 54-year-old was assigned to the Office of Technology Services.
"We ask everyone to keep Russell's family – his wife and children – and his coworkers and friends in your prayers," Satterwhite wrote in a statement.
Deadly fire in Southeast Houston
Mayor Whitmire also said one person died in a fire in Southeast Houston.
He says the fire is believed to have been caused by lightning and is believed to be storm-related.
The person who died has not been identified.
Man dies after tree falls on Humble-area home
A 53-year-old man tragically lost his life when an oak tree fell on his house during Hurricane Beryl in Humble.
The incident occurred as the man was inside the house with his family in Kings River Village, seeking shelter from the storm.
Authorities say the man's wife and children, who were also inside the home, escaped without injury.
Grandmother killed by fallen tree at Harris County home
Maria Laredo (Photo provided by family)
A 73-year-old woman has died after a tree fell through her north Harris County home in the 17400 block of Rustic Canyon Trail as Hurricane Beryl moved through the area.
Family members identified the woman as Maria Laredo.
She was living with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
A man in New Caney was killed by a fallen tree on Monday afternoon.
He was reportedly using a tractor to move debris off of the roadway when the wind picked back up and a large tree toppled, landing on the man and the tractor.
The man, in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tree falling on home
A man died after being trapped under debris from a tree falling on a home in the 20900 block of Heather Grove Court in Humble.
Five Galveston County deaths
Authorities report two people died due to carbon monoxide poisoning from generators but were unable to provide further details.
One person died on the Bolivar Peninsula after being unable to use their medical equipment with no power supply, causing a lack of oxygen.
Two other people, one in Galveston and another in Texas City, died due to the heat