A quiet Thursday afternoon on State Highway 6 near the Grimes-Waller County line turned tragic when a southbound SUV collided with a northbound 18-wheeler in a crash that left three Hempstead residents dead and shook families across southeast Texas.
Around 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to a serious two-vehicle collision on a stretch of Highway 6 that links communities from Bryan-College Station down toward Houston. Investigators say a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, carrying three people from Hempstead, was headed south when a northbound Freightliner 18-wheeler crossed the median and struck the SUV head-on.
The driver of the Hyundai, 45-year-old Charles Ortega, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sitting beside him in the front passenger seat was 46-year-old Travis Morehead, who also died at the scene. In the back seat was 21-year-old Ryan “Bear” Morehead, who was rushed to CHI St. Joseph Health Grimes Hospital with critical injuries but later succumbed to those injuries despite efforts to save him.
The driver and passenger of the 18-wheeler suffered suspected minor injuries and were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Cypress for treatment. Their identities have not been publicly released. Officials haven’t yet said what caused the semi-truck to veer across the median into oncoming traffic. As of now, there’s no word on whether mechanical failure, driver fatigue, or road conditions played any role, and toxicology and vehicle inspections are still expected as part of the ongoing investigation.
State troopers closed portions of Highway 6 for several hours as they carefully documented the scene and reconstructed the crash. The Texas Department of Transportation helped manage traffic while emergency crews cleared debris and removed wrecked vehicles. Travelers were urged to avoid the area as traffic delays stretched well into the afternoon.
Highway 6 is a key route for both commercial vehicles and daily commuters, and even on divided sections, median crossover crashes can be devastating when large trucks are involved. Local and state authorities continue to remind drivers to stay alert and follow safety guidelines, especially on busy stretches like this one.
The crash remains under active investigation. Troopers with the Texas DPS say a full crash report will be released once all evidence has been reviewed and findings finalized.
