Posted on 02/11/2021 11:16:05 AM PST by USA Conservative
A pileup just north of downtown Fort Worth has been deemed a “mass casualty event” by officials early Thursday morning.
The major crash was first reported around roughly 6 a.m., and the highway remains closed in that area as officials work to clear the scene. At least five people have died in the pileup, according to the Associated Press. Up to 100 cars were involved in the crashes. Police said dozens were hospitalized for treatment.
Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Mike Drivdahl said authorities were going to each vehicle to assess medical needs after the “mass casualty incident” involving tractor-trailers and other vehicles on Interstate 35. The freeway will be closed all day “to remove vehicles one by one,” he said. The official cause of the crash has not been determined, as officials prepare for a lengthy investigation, but there were several reports of black ice earlier in the morning throughout North Texas. One of our readers in Texas sends us a video that shows how the massive pileup started.
Video below:
(video uploaded on the site)
Thirty-six people have been taken to hospitals with varying degrees of injuries, according to the spokesman. Authorities had to use the Jaws of Life to pry open vehicles and free those trapped inside them.
First responders said there are still some cars wedged underneath other vehicles, causing some of the uncertainty around how many causalities there are, but they added there are some fatalities still likely on the scene and it could take some time to reach the bodies.
A video from the aftermath of the pileup:
First responder teams sent 14 ambulances and an ambulance bus to the scene to provide onsite care. The crash was declared a “mass casualty” event. Officials said they had used the bus to keep victims from developing hypothermia as well.
I was a driver’s helper on a big rig earlier this week.
Told him I wouldn’t want to do his job, too much responsibility.
If something goes wrong I don’t want to be the cause of a fatality.
I’ll stick with my Chevy Express Extended Cargo Van.
Interestingly, the asshat holding the camera escapes critique for his rubbernecking.
I came here to do just that.
Rubbernecking would indicate he’s driving. I don’t see the camera panning/moving as it would in a car.
The video was clearly taken from a car which was moving part of the time.
Idiots buy SUV’s.....
I see the same thing with street and underpass flooding as well as low water crossings. They think because they have SUV’s they are invincible (glubglubglub)
I stand corrected. He is driving, and I see headlights of a vehicle beside/behind him in is rear mirror.
However he is fully stopped in part of that footage.
At a certain level there is the risk of vehicles and debris flying across the highway at those driving “away” from the accident.
but yes, he is rubbernecking
I didn’t see that there were just two lanes. However, like you noted, there is no place left to go since there isn’t a landscaped median.
Since you are a civil engineer, I will point out one other thing I am seeing that looks poor. They are erecting cable fences in the wide median, on one side of the interstate close to the breakdown lane. These can go on for miles without a break. I understand the reason for safety but why can’t they leave a small opening every quarter mile or so in case of an emergency (an overturned tanker truck on fire for example) shutting down one side of the interstate? In some places you are left with only the two narrow breakdown lanes with no where else to go.
You can see a vehicle driver’s/front fender in the lower right of the first frames. My view was that he’s holding the phone out the window while rolling.
Cars with bad brakes, bad tires, too much speed, following too closely...
Why didn’t authorities down there drop the speed on that roadway and post LEOs to enforce it.
The bad weather wasn’t a surprise. Neither was the fact that you’ve got drivers unfamiliar with how to drive in it, and likely cars not maintained and/or equipped well enough to drive in it safely.
We had a gal pass us going 90 to nothing putting on her make up. I told hubby she was going to crash. Danged if she didn’t on the next curve. Car flipped and ended up in the bar ditch on the other side of the road. She was ok but saying she didn’t know what happened....
Did you provide witness testimony that she was farding?
When I lived in El Paso (25+ years ago), you could tell when the first frost arrived: 21 of the 22 overpasses on I-10 had accidents on them, from drivers hitting their breaks on the icy roads. The other one was simply a statistical anomaly. lol
I watch MegaDrivingSchool on YouTube (yeah, I know). The nearly daily 10-minute-ish collages of videos are reason number one I’m saving a bit extra for a front and rear camera in my commuter rig.
Drivers of four-wheel vehicles initiate nine out of ten altercations with a heavy truck. Distraction and lack of situational awareness account for most of these events. Ignorance of the limitations of heavy vehicles, disregard for their drivers, making the truck a target upon which to vent rage count for much of the remainder.
If you vent your emotions through driving an automobile, drive fast-and-loose in highway traffic, believe you are golden such that no ill karma will befall stupid behavior—you will lose. Understand that tonnage is unforgiving if your error in judgement places one between the immovable object and the unstoppable force.
Ever seen freezing fog?
You never know but especially in the sun belt. I hope you weren’t hurt. People don’t think about slowing down for anything. What scares me is FOG.....even pulling off the road is no guarantee someone is thinking the same thing and plows into you......
Here is some earlier footage. 18 wheelers haulin’ a%%.
https://twitter.com/lenshawk/status/1359943802832707584
Keep your eyes on the road.
Get real. You need to concentrate on that 7”x10” screen now bolted to the dashboard of new cars, all the while texting on your device. (I hope you know that’s a sarc)
However, I was trying to maintain a safe speed and still I had yahoos tailgating me and passing me, giving me the finger as they passed. Slower speed is essential when it is icy or snowy on the roads.
So you arrive 5-10 minutes later at your destination. So what?
This is how people get into the situations like we saw in Texas this morning. Just too fast for conditions.
I’ve seen a semi at a complete stop slide sideways of the crest of the roadway unto the shoulder. You are completely helpless. In North Carolina we get warnings about black ice conditions. Most of the time they are accurate.
It was foggy this week and I didn’t get out to see it (working from home) but next week I have to return to my daily commute.
My normal pattern is to wait a bit on mornings with heavy rain or fog. Next week are below freezing temps.
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