10 vehicle pile-up claims one life on section of I-10 with recently raised speed limit

One person is dead after a ten vehicle pile up crash on a portion of Interstate 10 with a recently raised speed limit on Thursday morning. 

The accident happened on Thursday, March 19th in Chambers County east of Houston, Texas at around 8 a.m. on I-10 near SH 61. 

According to ABC13, a 48-year-old truck driver was unable to control his speed when he encountered traffic slowed for a previous wreck. That rig then rear ended another vehicle, resulting in a pile up of ten vehicles. One 75-year-old man was killed in the crash, and at least seven other people were injured in the crash. Those injuries were described as non life threatening. 

The truck driver’s family drove to the scene shortly after the crash and says that the truck driver is okay. The incident forced the closure of both sides of I-10 as crews worked to clear a diesel spill and the wrecked vehicles. The crash is still under investigation and no charges have been filed. 

TxDOT reportedly raised the speed limit on this stretch of I-10 in a recent increase, and the updated signage was just installed last week. TxDOT says that the speed limit change was made to allow for consistent speed limits along I-10. TxDOT says that speed limit changes can lead to unpredictable driving.

The current speed limit is 75. The previous speed limit was set at 65.