HOUSTON, Texas - A Sunday evening collision involving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a commercial tractor-trailer along the East Freeway frontage road claimed the life of a rider near Beltway 8.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:20 p.m. on October 11, 2026, in the 14300 block of the East Freeway eastbound feeder road.
According to preliminary findings by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Vasiliy Daranutsa was operating an eastbound Freightliner truck tractor towing a semi-trailer along the feeder road. As Daranutsa initiated a right-hand turn onto Redmond Street, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Angelo Mendez struck the side of the turning semi-trailer.
Mendez suffered fatal injuries in the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene by responding emergency personnel.
Daranutsa immediately brought his rig to a stop, remained on site, and cooperated fully with law enforcement officers. Sheriff’s deputies did not report any additional injuries.
Deputies and crash reconstruction specialists shut down the eastbound feeder road for several hours to conduct an initial investigation and clear the roadway. All lanes have since been reopened.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Vehicular Crimes Division is leading the open investigation to determine the speed, visibility, and precise sequence of events leading up to the collision.
