East Texas

By ADAM RUSSELL
Staff Writer

LONGVIEW — Smashed vehicles and debris littered a 300-yard swath of westbound Interstate 20 east of Texas Highway 31 after a multi-car collision.

Rain and excessive speeds caused the pileup, said Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Bruce Dalme.

Dalme said no fatalities were reported as of 7 p.m., but one person was transported to the hospital with very serious injuries. He said because of the chaotic nature and scope of the wreckage area he could not give a precise number of the injured or vehicles involved. He did say injuries ranged from minor to serious and several people were taken by ambulance to area hospitals.

Two people were airlifted, DPS Cpl. Bob Lindley said. He said the seriously injured were taken to Good Shepherd in Shreveport and Trinity Mother Frances.

“I am surprised there were not more injuries, at least not more serious injuries,” he said.

Lindley said the concrete barriers that run along the interstate’s median prevented eastbound lanes from becoming involved. Damaged cars, trucks and tractor-trailers lined the westbound lanes.

Some rested against the wall and others came to a stop in the pine trees along the north ditch embankment.

Multiple jurisdictions responded to the disaster, including DPS, Emergency Medical Services, the Kilgore Fire Department and Longview police.

Dalme said the combination of rain and excessive speeds, coupled with traffic entering a construction zone, caused the pileup.

He said a minor accident had occurred and cars slowed down to avoid collision.

The slowing cars were then struck by vehicles following behind and a domino effect ensued. Cleanup crews were expected to have the scene cleaned within four hours, Lindley said.

PILEUP: Onlookers walk among the wreckage after a multi-car pileup on Interstate 20 east of Texas Highway 31 on Friday in Longview. Texas Department of Public Safety spokespeople, blaming excessive speeds and rain for the pileup, reported multiple injuries and no fatalities.
((Staff Photo By Adam Russell))