8-year-old boy killed, 40-year-old mother, 7-year-old daughter, critically injured, airlifted to hospital, after their car is rear-end by a tractor-trailer on Highway 290 near Houston.

A child is dead and several are injured in a four-vehicle accident, according to officials.

The Cy Fair Volunteer Fire Department said one of the cars involved in the accident caught fire on Highway 290 at Mason.

Texas Department of Public Safety investigators said it started when the driver of an 18 wheeler looked down at his cell phone while driving on Highway 290.

Officials said by the time that driver looked up, he was slamming into the back of a Silver Kia Optima driven by a 40-year-old mother. The mother had her son, between eight and ten years old, and her 7-year-old daughter inside the car.

DPS officials said the impact was so severe, the back bumper of the car was pushed into the front seat of the car. Investigators says that first crash caused a domino effect, with two other vehicles then getting hit.

“The truck tractor semi-trailer was the driving force and it struck what seems to be a Kia Optima. And that Optima struck the back end of a Ford crew cab. I believe it's an F-150. And that vehicle struck another,” said Trooper Richard Standifer.

Investigators said the mother and daughter from the Kia Optima were taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann. The mother is expected to survive. Her daughter was taken to surgery with a fractured skull. Her son died at the scene in the crash. Officials said the drivers of the other two cars that were hit had minor injuries.

DPS said the driver of the 18 wheeler was still at the scene being questioned and appeared to be unharmed. No word yet on what charges he may face.

The medical examiner and Hazmat crews are heading to the scene. DPS said both directions of 290 near Mason could remain closed for four to six more hours Friday night.