Thursday, March 26, 2015

1 DEAD, SEVERAL INJURED WHEN HIGHWAY BRIDGE COLLAPSES IN TEXAS AFTER BEING HIT BY OVERSIGHT TRUCK





MARCH 26, 2015

AUSTIN, TEXAS (REUTERS/KEYE-TV) 

A bridge under construction in Salado, Texas collapsed onto several vehicles on Thursday after An oversized truck hit at least one beam supporting it, local officials said.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials say an oversize truck crashed into the support beam of the FM 2484 overpass on Thursday morning, causing part of the bridge to collapse. Authorities say there are two tractor trailers and two passenger cars that are under the wreckage. 

Local news media reported at least one person has been killed, but the local Bell County Sheriff's Office could not confirm the report. The incident took place on Interstate 35 about 50 miles north of Austin.

"The impact caused a few beams of the bridge that was under construction to fall," said Veronica Beyer, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Transportation.

The highway runs through the center of the United States from the Mexican to Canadian border. It has been shut in both directions near the accident site, she said.

TxDOT tells KEYE-TV that travelers should consider taking SH 95 to Temple or SH 195 to Killeen to bypass traffic on I-35 in Salado.