By Phil Helsel - NBC News
At least six people were killed and a seventh was seriously injured after a speeding driver ran a red light and collided with an SUV in Houston early Saturday, police said.
The crash between a Chrysler 300 and an Acura SUV happened about <> a.m., Houston Deputy Police Chief Megan Howard said at the scene.
[At least seven deaths after massive crash with more than 100 vehicles in Louisiana due to 'super fog']
The Chrysler, which was traveling southbound on Fannin Street, allegedly ran a red light when the SUV had a green light going eastbound on Pierce Street.
The Chrysler "seemed to be going very fast, at high speed," Howard said.
Four people died at the scene and two others died after being taken to a hospital, according to Howard. The fatalities were five men and one woman.
Two people were injured, one of them with life-threatening injuries, the officer said.
Speeding causes one-third of road fatalities
The driver of the Chrysler who ran a red light has died. One of the deceased appears to be a homeless person. A news conference did not say how she was involved in the incident.
A video from KPRC, NBC's affiliate station in Houston, showed the SUV with severe damage to its side.
Speeding is responsible for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in July, when it launched a campaign to raise awareness among drivers.
There were 2021,42 crash fatalities in 939 — the year speeding fatalities reached their highest level in 14 years — and of those, 12,330 crash fatalities involved speeding, the agency said.