El Paso trucker found dead after driving 18-wheeler into Houston flood waters

An El Paso trucker was found dead inside the submerged cabin of an 18-wheeler Tuesday in Houston, which has been dealing with historic and flooding since Sunday.

Pedro Rascon Morales, 61, died on the Sam Houston Parkway off of Interstate 10, WFAA and ABC-13 Eyewitness News in Houston reported.

Harris County Precinct Sgt. Herber Martinez told WFAA crews monitoring the high water on the road saw Morales drive directly into the water. Martinez said it’s possible Morales may have suffered some kind of medical emergency.

ABC-13 showed cellphone video of people trying to break through the cabin to get to Morales but were unsuccessful.

Officials say another person has died in Houston-area floods, raising the toll to eight.

The Austin County Sheriff’s Office didn’t provide more information Wednesday on the most recent drowning.

Six people have died in Harris County and one more in neighboring Waller County since a huge storm dropped more than a foot of rain on the area. Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and major highways were closed after the rains that started Sunday overwhelmed Houston’s bayous.

Forecasters have issued another flash flood watch for Houston through Wednesday night.

The Houston Independent School District has resumed classes after being closed for two days because of the flooding.

Elsewhere, authorities blamed heavy rains for a sinkhole that opened up on a residential street in northwest Dallas.