Semi In I-35 Fatal Bridge Crash Didn't Have Proper Permit
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NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - State investigators say it could take a week or more to determine what led to a fatal Interstate-35 bridge crash near Salado Thursday. Meanwhile, troubling revelations are surfacing about the trucking company at the center of the crash.
According to state investigators, a tractor trailer struck a beam of a bridge under construction on I-35. Overhead beams fell, crushing a pickup truck on the other side of the freeway. Arlington father Clark Davis, 32, was killed while making a delivery for his Irving employer.
Raquel Fuentes, a spokesperson for Denver-based ProBuild, said, "We are deeply saddened at the news of Clark's passing. We are keeping his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers."
An alphabet soup of state agencies are involved in the probe: TxDOT, TxDMV and TxDPS. The Texas Department of Public Safety, however, is the lead investigative agency.
"We are looking at road conditions, we are looking at bridge height, truck height, load height," explained Trooper Harpin Myers. "We will investigate every 'nook and cranny' associated with this crash."
Already state officials with the Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed that the semi driver did not have the proper permits for the over height load.
The fatal crash was on the minds of other drivers Friday who told me that a driver must be aware of his height load at all times. "It's just like knowing how much air is in your tires," says Josue Romero. Romeo just wrapped up a run from Abilene and says he avoids bridges that might even come close to his 12'6" load.
"I grit my teeth, and see if I can go another way around," he said. "I'm concerned about safety all the time."
CBS 11 News tried reaching Lares Trucking by phone, but the owner didn't answer and the mailbox was full. The address listed for the company came back to a big rig parking lot in Crowley… owners there had unopened mail for the company, but say they've never been a client.
"I don't know him at all," said Ana Aguiniga, whose family owns the big rig lot. "I don't recall meeting him, knowing him. I don't know who this person is. It's very troubling."
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