Tornado on I-35 Leads to Multiple 18-Wheeler Accident

At least five tornadoes touched down in North Texas on Monday, May 3rd, damaging as many as 50 structures and causing a multi-semi-truck accident on I-35. At least three individuals were hospitalized following the crash, though there were no reported tornado fatalities.

While so far it appears that no one was killed from the five tornadoes that touched down in Texas on Monday, the damage that the storm caused has been significant.

“We’ve seen houses that have had roofs ripped off, houses that looked like pretzels,” according to Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman who described the aftermath of the tornados on Monday to WFAA.

Multiple highways and roadways in the state were closed or impassable due to wreckage and damage. One of the tornadoes passed over I-35 in Ellis County, causing damage to vehicles.

Three 18-wheelers were flipped over near Johnson Road, and the road median was shifted as a result. Two of the semis were traveling south, and the third was traveling north. A van and two trucks traveling southbound were also involved, as well as another semi-truck that wasn’t flipped.

The northbound semi was pushed off the interstate into a nearby field, while the two southbound semis were pushed into the center of the highway. The van was pushed into a truck before maneuvering to the shoulder.

Three individuals from the flipped semi-trucks were transported to hospitals, at least two of whom had to be extracted from their trucks using the jaws of life.

“Several people came to their aid, at least one was a retired firefighter,” Norman told reporters. “Another guy had a saw and helped saw some people out immediately. We definitely had a lot of people who went above and beyond to help their neighbor.”

No injuries were reported related to the passengers of the van or other vehicles involved. This incident remains under investigation and details are limited at this time.

Determining how many Texas car accidents are actually caused by tornadoes or other severe weather is somewhat difficult because the data on this topic doesn’t distinguish between mild and severe weather conditions. However, with an average of 132 tornadoes touching down in the state every year , it’s important that Texas drivers know what to do in case of one of these extreme weather events.

In general, you should avoid driving if you know that a tornado may be developing in your area. But what do you do if a tornado or tornado warning is announced while you’re driving?

Here’s a guide to reacting to tornado warnings and warning signs while driving. Feel free to download and share it with your loved ones to help them stay safe, too.

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Source : WFAA

Tornado on I-35 Leads to Multiple 18-Wheeler Accident

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