Falling Debris Causes Traffic Nightmare In Dallas
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Debris falling from an overpass caused a traffic nightmare in Dallas for several hours on Saturday, shutting down Interstate-35E at LBJ Freeway while crews worked to clean up the mess. The incident started when a tractor trailer hit some cables while traveling under the overpass. This caused debris to fall onto cars.
A spokesperson with the Texas Department of Transportation said that a contractor was applying a fresh coat of paint to the overpass, and using the cables to hang metal sheets from the bridge, used for catching any spilled paint. But a vehicle that was carrying a boat struck the cabling at around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Part of the boat actually got stuck on the cables and was left hanging over the highway. Other pieces of debris were scattered across the road.
However, drivers said that the real danger was the cable, which had become loose during the incident. It whipped around the highway, damaging about six cars and shattering some windshields. "You don't really expect to be driving and see a cable flying at you," said victim Shannon Mahoney. Her young daughter was in the backseat. "The glass actually came into the driver seat, my seat."
"I'm lucky the glass didn't break through and cut me open," said delivery truck driver Michael Matson. "It was scary. The first wreck I've been in like this, and I don't want to be in another one."
Investigators are still trying to determine the exact details behind this incident. According to TxDOT, there is a set of restrictions addressing how low construction materials may hang down from a bridge, but in this case, it appears as though the contractor was complying with all guidelines.
The Dallas Police Department said that the driver who knocked the cable loose had initially fled the scene, but later returned. It is still unclear who is to blame for the incident.
Work crews had to shut down two lanes of Interstate-35E and the westbound ramp from Interstate-635 to northbound Interstate-35E. The debris has since been cleaned up and all lanes of traffic are open again. TxDOT performed a check of the bridge and did not find any structural damage.
Additional lanes of Interstate-35E will be closed again starting at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night to remove any remaining cables and debris from the area.
