7 dead in Houston area due to fallen trees, floods and fire

HOUSTON – Seven deaths were reported in the greater Houston area after Beryl swept through southeast Texas on Monday.

Three people were killed by fallen trees, one died in a fire, two drowned and an officer died when his vehicle became trapped in the floodwaters, authorities said.

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Civilian HPD employee dies in flood

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said a Level 1 civilian employee of the Houston Police Department died on his way to work on Monday.

According to the mayor, he was driving off I-45 when he was caught in the floodwaters at the Houston Avenue underpass. The mayor says the employee called HPD for help but tragically 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 – as well as his colleagues and friends in their prayers,” Satterwhite wrote in a statement.

Deadly fire in southeast Houston

Mayor Whitmire also said one person was killed in a fire in southeast Houston.

He said the fire was probably caused by lightning and was probably related to a storm.

The deceased person could not be identified.

Man dies when tree falls on house in Humble area

A 53-year-old man was tragically killed when an oak tree fell on his home in Humble during Hurricane Beryl.

The incident occurred while the man was staying at his home in Kings River Village with his family, seeking shelter from the storm.

The man’s wife and children, who were also in the house, were able to escape unharmed, authorities said.

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Grandmother killed by fallen tree in her Harris County home

Maria Laredo (photo provided by family)

A 73-year-old woman died when a tree fell on her home in northern Harris County during Hurricane Beryl.

Family members identified the woman as Maria Laredo.

She lived with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

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2 dead in Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan confirms two people have died in the county.

According to the sheriff, an elderly woman walked into the storm, became disoriented, fell into a pool and drowned.

He says an autistic child also died after falling into a bayou.

Montgomery County man killed by fallen tree

A man in New Caney was killed by a fallen tree Monday afternoon.

He was reportedly using a tractor to clear debris from the road when the wind picked up again and a large tree fell, hitting the man and the tractor.

The man, in his forties, was pronounced dead at the scene.