Investigators believe a 20-year-old driver may have been intoxicated at the time of the crash.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A 5-year-old girl is dead and her mother seriously hurt after a wrong-way crash with a possible drunk driver Friday night, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. on E Mt Houston Road near the Shadowlake Estates community.

HCSO said the 5-year-old girl was riding in a Cadillac sedan with her mom headed east on E Mt Houston Road when a 20-year-old man driving a Nissan SUV headed west crossed over lanes and hit them “nearly head on.”

All three were rushed to a hospital. The sheriff’s office said the 5-year-old girl died from her injuries on the way to a hospital. Her mother suffered major injuries, but is expected to survive. 

The severity of the injuries to the Nissan driver is unclear.

HCSO said the 20-year-old showed signs of intoxication and had open alcohol containers on him at the time of the crash.

“This is a dark roadway, you know, it’s never going to be safe. Even one drink can start impairing your ability to drive the vehicle,” HCSO Cpt. Eric Albers said at the scene.

The sheriff’s office said the Harris County District Attorney’s Office is also investigating the crash.

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