Salado, TX : Arlington man died after a tractor-trailer slammed into a Central Texas overpass on Thursday morning, March 26, 2015

One person was killed and three others were injured when an 18-wheeler smashed into a bridge on Interstate 35 Thursday morning in Salado, dislodging two beams, which fell onto the highway hitting several vehicles and closing the highway in both directions.

Clark Davis, a 32-year-old Arlington man who was driving a pickup truck on which the beams fell died at the scene.

Davis leaves behind a 7-year-old daughter and girlfriend.

The injured victims were taken to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple with what authorities said were non-life-threatening injuries, but further details weren’t immediately available.

One was flown by helicopter and the other two were transported by ambulance.

Late Thursday afternoon officials said two of the injured victims had been released from the hospital.

The third was admitted in stable condition.

In all, three 18-wheelers and two pickup trucks were involved in the accident, which was reported at around 11:15 a.m. Thursday at FM 2484 and Interstate 35.

Because of the accident, all southbound interstate traffic was being detoured to U.S. 190 West to Killeen and then south on State Highway 195 to Georgetown and northbound traffic was being detoured onto State Highway 29 East in Georgetown to State Highway 95 north to Temple.

The northbound and southbound detours through Killeen were cancelled around 10:20 p.m. Thursday.

Officials expect the mainlanes of I35 to reopen around midnight when cleanup has finished.

By around 4 p.m. Thursday, traffic was backed up as much as seven miles in each direction.

Killeen police were asking local motorists to avoid both Highway 190 and Highway 195 because of the detoured traffic.

Officials estimate the crash site should be cleared by around 8 p.m.

Because of the traffic backup, Fort Hood officials authorized early release for soldiers and civilian employees.

Release times were staggered in accordance with post policy.

Personnel were advised to check with chain of command, supervisors or employers.

TxDOT engineers on the scene said that it appeared an oversize tractor-trailer hit the bridge, which was under construction, collapsing the beams onto the highway.

The beams struck the pickup driven by the man who died, as well as a second rig, which burst into flames.

First responders almost immediately called for heavy equipment and requested a medical helicopter based in Williamson County.

Source :
One Killed After Bridge Collapses On I-35 In Salado, Texas