KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas – The Department of Public Safety is investigating an accident on eastbound I-20 near Farm-to-Market (FM) 1641 involving a pedestrian who was struck by an 18-wheeler at approximately 4:40 p.m. Friday.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas – The Department of Public Safety is investigating an accident on eastbound I-20 near Farm-to-Market (FM) 1641 involving a pedestrian who was struck by an 18-wheeler at approximately 4:40 p.m. Friday.
According to authorities, the pedestrian was walking on the highway and dodging in and out of vehicles as they passed at highway speeds just moments before being struck by the 18-wheeler. The pedestrian was flown to an area hospital in serious condition via CareFlite, reportedly to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Witnesses told police the pedestrian's vehicle broke down on the highway at approximately 11 a.m. this morning, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Trooper Kyle Bradford. The pedestrian then spent the day at the Exxon gas station on FM 1641, became belligerent at one point, and was asked to leave, according to Bradford. That's when the pedestrian walked to the highway where he was struck about 100 yards from the gas station.
The left lane of eastbound I-20 was closed from the time of the accident until 6:30 p.m. while DPS troopers conducted their accident investigation. I-20 was completely closed temporarily to create a landing zone for CareFlite in the early stages of the accident.
A DPS helicopter took aerial photography of the accident scene. The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, the Forney Fire Department, and an East Texas Medical Center ambulance assisted in the emergency efforts at the scene.
The 18-wheeler involved in the accident was hauling a cattle guard on a lowboy style trailer.
The patients current condition is unknown at the time of press. It is also unknown if the pedestrian was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
