KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Interstate 20 in eastern Kaufman County has reopened Monday evening after a multi-vehicle crash caused a large fuel spill and an approximate eight-hour closure.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Interstate 20 in eastern Kaufman County has reopened Monday evening after a multi-vehicle crash caused a large fuel spill and an approximate eight-hour closure.
The crash was reported at approximately 10:45 a.m. on westbound Interstate 20 near mile marker 509 in eastern Kaufman County and involves two 18-wheelers, a tanker, and two passenger vehicles.
Both eastbound and westbound were initially closed due to concerns from the fuel spill. Eastbound was opened approximately three hours after its closure and westbound was reopened at approximately 5:52 p.m., emergency officials tell inForney.com.
"Preliminary investigation indicates a truck tractor semi-trailer carrying diesel fuel was traveling west entering an area of IH20 that was restricted to one lane due to construction," according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Sgt. Kyle Bradford. "For an as yet undetermined reason, the tanker did not see the slowing traffic ahead and struck a white Dodge pick-up."
Bradford says the pickup, in turn, struck a grey Hyundai passenger car.
"The tanker truck and trailer continued to slide and struck another truck tractor semi-trailer box truck," stated Bradford. "During this impact, the tanker began to roll on its side and hit a third truck tractor semi-trailer box truck."
Bradford says westbound Interstate 20 will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time due to the fuel spill.
Kaufman County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Howie reports a couple hundred gallons of fuel were initially spilled as emergency personnel arrived on scene and, an undetermined amount of fuel, continued to spill from the tanker. Howie later stated approximately 250 to 350 gallons of fuel had spilled during the incident.
Westbound Interstate 20 was closed at Farm-to-Market (FM) 2965 near the Kaufman-Van Zandt County line and eastbound Interstate 20 was closed at FM 429.
Two HAZMAT Spill Response teams and several heavy-duty wreckers were on scene.
No major injuries were reported in the crash, according to Bradford.
