TERRELL, Texas — Texas Department of Public Safety troopers applied a tourniquet to a severely injured driver involved in a major crash just west of the Terrell city limits on Friday night — potentially saving the man's life.
TERRELL, Texas — Texas Department of Public Safety troopers applied a tourniquet to a severely injured driver involved in a major crash just west of the Terrell city limits on Friday night — potentially saving the man's life.
The crash occurred just before 10 p.m. on westbound Spur 557 at the U.S. Highway 80 merger. A UPS truck-tractor hauling two pup trailers had overturned and struck a Volkswagen Beetle — entrapping both drivers.
"TxDPS troopers Blackmon and Hale were nearby patrolling the highway and arrived on scene first," read a statement from the College Mound Volunteer Fire Department. "The truck driver had a severed arm and was bleeding profusely. Troopers applied a tourniquet preventing the victim from bleeding to death as they waited for fire and EMS."
It was all-hands-on-deck as firefighters, medics, and law enforcement worked to extricate both drivers from their vehicles.
Both drivers, and the only occupants of both vehicles, were airlifted by a CareFlite medical helicopter to Dallas-area trauma centers.
Spur 557 has been closed westbound at Farm-to-Market (FM) 148. The highway remains closed due to a HAZMAT spill.
Respding agencies include the Terrell Volunteer Fire Department, the City of Terrell Fire Department, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Kaufman County Office of Emergency Management, and CareFlite.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash.