El Paso, Texas, police say that parked construction equipment that stuck out several feet into a lane of the interstate was a major contributing factor in a five vehicle crash that killed two people yesterday.
Deadly crash closes I-10 East at Americas Avenue https://t.co/uTY5TIPbND pic.twitter.com/lhfB64NTDo
— Social In El Paso (@SocialinElPaso) December 21, 2017
Construction Equipment In Roadway Blamed For Four Truck, One Car Pileup
The crash happened around 2:20 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-10 at the Americas Avenue exit.
Investigators say that a piece of construction equipment was in the center median between eastbound and westbound I-10 with a conveyor belt sticking out about four feet into the inside lane of eastbound I-10.
According to a release from the El Paso Police Department, a 2016 Peterbilt and a 2007 Walk Tanker Trailer were both eastbound on I-10 when they struck the conveyor belt with their driver’s side mirror. Both truck drivers pulled over after the collision with the conveyor arm and got out of their trucks.
Police identified the two people killed in the wreck along I-10 in far east El Paso. They semitruck they were traveling in hit a piece of construction equipment protruding 4 feet onto the roadway, said police. STORY: https://t.co/PN7qkM3tRR pic.twitter.com/CqAk0jckU2
— KFOX14 News (@KFOX14) December 22, 2017
Following this, a 2017 Freightliner and a vehicle identified as a 2018 Great Dane trailer also struck the conveyor arm. The arm tore into the cab of the Freightliner and pushed the 24 year old truck driver into the back of the cab. The sleeper berth was ripped from the truck and a female passenger, Keserie Paredes, was ejected.
The 2017 Freightliner and the 2018 Great Dane trailer both went on to strike a Jeep, pushing it into the 2007 Walker Tank Trailer.
Police say that the as-yet unidentified 24 year old truck driver from the the 2017 Freightliner rolled out of his truck onto the roadway.
Both the 24 year old truck driver and Paredes died at the scene.
A piece of equipment sticking out of a construction vehicle parked in the median is to blame for a deadly wreck along I-10 in far east El Paso, according to El Paso police.
STORY: https://t.co/ESbyPYqLzt pic.twitter.com/iiHzs7up9Y— CBS4Local (@CBS4Local) December 22, 2017
Fatal Crash Remains Under Investigation
The Texas Department of Transportation has confirmed that JAR Construction was contracted at the site where the fatal crash occurred. No charges have been filed at this time as the investigation continues.
I-10 east was shut down until almost noon for investigation and clean up of the crash.