Weather Officials Investigating If Tornado Was On Texas Interstate When Big Rigs, Vehicles Were Toppled
WAXAHACHIE (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — A tornado warning was directly over a section of Interstate-35 in North Texas when a massive crash involving at least 3 big rigs and a passenger vehicle happened on May 3.
Powerful winds from what is believed to have been a tornado blew two tractor-trailers into the center barrier and a van was pushed into those big rigs. Another semi was blown completely off the roadway. Several people were taken to an area hospital.
Video from the scene Monday night showed at least three large trucks toppled on the highway near Waxahachie, about 30 miles south of Dallas.
Three people were taken to hospitals but their conditions weren't immediately known.
Both sides of the interstate were closed for hours -- finally reopening around 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
CBS 11 Storm Chaser Mike Prendergast was following the path of the possible tornado and was one of the first people to come across the crash. He saw several cars tossed into the field next to the interstate and the overturned big rigs.
The National Weather Service will survey the area Tuesday to determine its intensity.
The stormy weather also knocked out electricity to tens of thousands of people in Arkansas early Tuesday. More severe weather was expected throughout Tuesday in parts of the Deep South, the Storm Prediction Center said.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)