18-Wheeler Crash Closes Dallas Tollway For Hours
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Just before 4:30 p.m. all northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway, from Interstate-635 to Spring Valley Road were finally re-opened after a serious morning accident involving an 18-wheeler and two vehicles.
From about 9:45 a.m. until evening rush hour, northbound traffic was being diverted onto eastbound Interstate-635. The 18-wheeler was removed from the roadway just before 4 p.m.
As of 3:44 p.m. all southbound lanes of the Tollway, at I-635 , were open.
As Chopper 11 flew over the scene, minutes after the morning accident, at least one car could be seen underneath the trailer portion of the overturned semi. The truck was carrying a 30,000 pound load of cardboard.
Officials with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) said the only major damage was to a light pole in the center median. The light is functioning, but will have to be replaced.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesman Lonnie Haschel said the crash happened as the semi was traveling the westbound I-635 ramp onto the northbound Dallas Tollway.
Haschel said the driver of the 18-wheeler was traveling too fast, crossed all three lanes of Tollway traffic, pushed an SUV through the concrete barrier and into southbound traffic, then fell over and landed on top of another car.
CBS 11 News has confirmed that 49-year-old Greg Meece, of Sugarland, was injured and taken to Parkland Hospital. Meece was the driver of the car that was trapped beneath the 18-wheeler. Thursday afternoon he was in serious condition in the ICU.
The driver of the SUV was also taken to an area hospital. That person's condition isn't known.
The driver of the semi was not injured, but Haschel said that individual will be charged with "failure to control speed."
Some alternatives for east/west travelers might be - Beltline Road, Forest Lane, Royal Lane or Walnut Hill Lane. Alternatives for north/south travelers might be - Interstate-35, Lemmon Avenue (which turns into Marsh Lane), U.S. Highway 75 or Greenville Avenue.
Check the area traffic backups, delays and redirects in the CBSDFW.COM traffic section.
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