Street View of East Orem Drive near Martindale Drive in southeast Houston, where the fatal crash occurred. Source: Google Maps.
KEY DETAILS
DATE & TIME
The crash happened around 9 p.m. Sunday, August 31, 2026.
LOCATION
East Orem Drive near Martindale Drive, Houston, TX
VICTIM
A woman driving a Honda Accord was killed; two passengers in her car were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries; the Jeep’s driver and a juvenile passenger were uninjured.
ROAD CLOSURES
No road closures were reported in connection with the crash.
INVESTIGATION
Houston police’s Vehicular Crimes Division is investigating; the driver could face a reckless manslaughter charge that authorities say may be upgraded to intoxication manslaughter pending the Harris County District Attorney’s review.
A woman was killed and two other people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash in southeast Houston on the night of Sunday, August 31, 2026. Police say a Jeep SUV traveling westbound on East Orem Drive at a high rate of speed struck a Honda Accord as it exited a residential neighborhood near Martindale Drive. The woman driving the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene, while two passengers in her car were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Jeep and a juvenile passenger inside it were not hurt.
According to ABC13 Houston, Houston police say the Jeep’s driver showed signs of intoxication at the scene and could face a reckless manslaughter charge that authorities say may be upgraded to intoxication manslaughter once the Harris County District Attorney’s Office reviews the case. HPD’s Vehicular Crimes Division is leading the investigation. No arrests had been announced as of the latest reporting, and no road closures were noted in connection with the crash.
X
ABC13 Houston
@abc13houston · Aug 31, 2026
Woman killed, 2 hospitalized in crash involving driver who ‘showed signs of intoxication’ in southeast Houston, HPD says
Under Texas Penal Code § 49.08, a person commits intoxication manslaughter if they operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated and, by reason of that intoxication, cause the death of another person. It is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors do not need to separately prove reckless driving — intoxication causing death is sufficient to support the charge.
Texas Penal Code § 19.04 defines manslaughter as recklessly causing the death of another person, and applies when a driver’s reckless conduct leads to a fatal crash. It is charged as a second-degree felony. Investigators often file this charge first while toxicology results are pending, then consider upgrading it once intoxication is confirmed.
This summary is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.
How Beverly Law Can Help
If you lost a loved one in this accident, our attorneys can help you understand your options. Free consultation, English & Spanish, and no fee unless we win.
Editorial note: Beverly Law publishes accident reports as a public service, based on information from official traffic authorities, local news outlets, and public records. If you are a family member of the victim and would like information added, corrected, or removed, please contact our editorial team: intakeassistant5@beverlylaw.org
We’ll request the official CHP/police collision report for you at no cost. Fill this out and we’ll contact you as soon as it’s ready.
Houston Car Accident Lawyer & Truck Accident Attorney — Beverly Law
Injured in a crash in Houston? Our accident lawyers deal with the insurance companies and fight for full compensation — free consultation, no fee unless we win.
✓Free consultation✓No fee unless we win✓English y Español✓Available 24/7
A car accident lawyer in Houston — or a truck accident attorney in Houston for big-rig and commercial-vehicle crashes — can protect your rights, obtain the police report and medical records, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Beverly Law handles car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, rideshare and DUI-victim cases in Houston and throughout Southeast Houston.
