FATAL AND FIERY WRECK
DAMAGES ROAD, BACKS UP TRAFFIC ON HWY 79 IN TEXAS. AN 18-WHEELER GRAIN HAULER WAS SOUTHBOUND ON
THE HIGHWAY, WHEN AN OIL FIELD SERVICE PICKUP TRUCK HEADING NORTH CROSSED THE
CENTER-LINE AND HIT THE GRAIN HAULER HEAD-ON.
Posted: Jan 09, 2015 9:17 AM EST
ROBERTSON COUNTY - Authorities are working to identify
the driver of an oil field service pickup truck who was killed in a head-on
collision Friday morning that damaged the roadway on Hwy 79 and backed up
traffic in Robertson County.
TxDOT spokesperson Bob Colwell says the wreck happened about 6:15 a.m. Friday on Hwy 79, about three miles south of Franklin.
An 18-wheeler grain hauler was southbound on the highway, when an oil field service pickup truck heading north crossed the center-line and hit the grain hauler head-on.
The pickup burst into flames, and both drivers were trapped in their vehicles. The driver of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fire and rescue workers had to work a while to get the driver of the grain hauler out of his vehicle. He was then taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan.
Colwell reports there was no ice on the roads, but they were wet. Authorities are still investigating.
Hwy 79 is closed for the time being, according to Colwell. Traffic is backed up significantly in both directions as of 8:30 a.m. Friday morning because there is not a good detour. At 10:30 a.m., one lane of traffic was back open. Traffic was being flagged through the one lane as emergency workers worked the accident.
There is quite a bit of debris and the road surface was damaged by the wreck. After the debris is removed, the roads will be closed for a time to allow for repairs. Colwell reports the highway will probably be closed until around the noon hour.
TxDOT spokesperson Bob Colwell says the wreck happened about 6:15 a.m. Friday on Hwy 79, about three miles south of Franklin.
An 18-wheeler grain hauler was southbound on the highway, when an oil field service pickup truck heading north crossed the center-line and hit the grain hauler head-on.
The pickup burst into flames, and both drivers were trapped in their vehicles. The driver of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fire and rescue workers had to work a while to get the driver of the grain hauler out of his vehicle. He was then taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan.
Colwell reports there was no ice on the roads, but they were wet. Authorities are still investigating.
Hwy 79 is closed for the time being, according to Colwell. Traffic is backed up significantly in both directions as of 8:30 a.m. Friday morning because there is not a good detour. At 10:30 a.m., one lane of traffic was back open. Traffic was being flagged through the one lane as emergency workers worked the accident.
There is quite a bit of debris and the road surface was damaged by the wreck. After the debris is removed, the roads will be closed for a time to allow for repairs. Colwell reports the highway will probably be closed until around the noon hour.