Trailer Carrying 120 Head of Cattle Overturns, Driver Injured
An 18-wheeler hauling 120 head of cattle overturned on Interstate 35 near Belton early Thursday, September 16. Two of the cattle died in the crash, and traffic on the highway was diverted for several hours while the remaining cattle were rounded up.
The Tragic Bovine Accident
According to Belton authorities, a semi-truck carrying a load of livestock overturned just before 6 a.m. on I-35 at mile marker 290. At the time of the crash, the trailer was transporting 120 head of cattle from an auction where they were purchased for a cattle ranch in Williamson County.
Reports state that, at most, two animals died in the crash.
The truck was traveling southbound on I-35 near the Bell County Expo Center when it overturned. The cause of the accident is unknown at this time.
Police arrived on the scene at around 7:30 a.m. According to witnesses, authorities turned the trailer upright while men on horseback were brought in to round up the cattle. Traffic was diverted at the Loop 121 exit and the highway was reopened by noon.
While a limited number of reports state that the driver of the livestock trailer was uninjured, the majority agree that he suffered at least minor injuries. All reports state that he is expected to be ok.
18-Wheeler Accidents in Texas, By the Numbers
Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) publishes a collection of reports on all of the car, truck, train, and pedestrian accidents that happened in the state over the course of the previous year. The data included in these reports categorize accidents by a variety of factors, including the initial cause and location of the crash.
By analyzing this data, Texas drivers can get a better understanding of how important it is to take care while on the road, especially during statistically risky situations like driving in rainy weather or urban areas.
Below, you can learn about where truck accidents happen in Texas and where they may be the most dangerous.
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- In Texas in 2020, there were 22,214 people killed in auto accidents involving semis.
- The majority of Texas 2020 18-wheeler accidents, just under 60%, occurred in urban areas.
- However, rural semi-truck accidents were three times more likely to result in at least one fatality compared to urban areas; despite there being far more urban semi accidents, the majority of fatalities occurred in rural areas.
- Overall, roughly 2% of all 18-wheeler accidents resulted in at least one death, compared to less than half of one percent of passenger car accidents.
As you can see, truck accidents are far more likely to result in death compared to other types of car accidents. Because of this, it’s especially important that drivers act with caution when traveling near 18-wheelers. Download our guide to learn how to safely share Texas roads with semi-trucks and share it with your loved ones to help them stay safe, too.
If you’ve been injured in a semi-truck accident in Texas, don’t hesitate to call the experienced Houston car and truck accident attorneys at Lapeze & Johns to start down the path to financial relief.
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