18-wheeler accident leaves 1 dead, 3 injured in Salado

Authorities investigate a a tractor-trailer that crashed into an overpass under construction on Thursday, March 26, 2015 in Salado, Texas.
Associated Press
Cars were forced to divert from Interstate 35 and onto Highway 95 resulting in congested traffic flow.  Skye Duncan | Lariat Photo Editor
Cars were forced to divert from Interstate 35 and onto Highway 95 resulting in congested traffic flow.
Skye Duncan | Lariat Photo Editor

UPDATED: 11:53 p.m. March 26, 2015

By Reubin Turner
City Editor

One person was killed and three others were injured when an 18-wheeler smashed into a bridge on Interstate 35 on Thursday morning in Salado.

The event caused two beams to dislodge and fall onto the highway hitting several vehicles and closing the highway in both directions.

Clark Davis, a 32-year-old Arlington man who was driving a pickup truck on which the beams fell died at the scene, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

The other victims were taken to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple with what authorities said were non-life-threatening injuries, but further details weren’t immediately available.

Late Thursday afternoon officials said two of the injured victims had been released from the hospital.

The third was still admitted in stable condition.

Authorities investigate a a tractor-trailer that crashed into an overpass under construction on Thursday, March 26, 2015 in Salado, Texas.    Associated Press
Authorities investigate a a tractor-trailer that crashed into an overpass under construction on Thursday, March 26, 2015 in Salado, Texas.
Associated Press

Traffic was backed up for miles along the interstate, which is a primary north-south artery through Texas, Donnie Adams of the Bell County Sheriff’s Office said.

“We’ve got more vehicles than we’ve got space for,” said Adams, noting that the area is undergoing heavy construction.

He said the stretch of roadway is being expanded to three lanes in both directions and includes new overpasses, exits and other work, he said.

According to Bell County Sheriff’s Office twitter account, however, I-35 around the Salado area was still closed at that time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.