ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A crash involving a semi truck Sunday morning has killed two people, and caused major traffic delays on Interstate 20.
UPDATE
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) sent out a notice Sunday evening that both eastbound and westbound lanes of I-20 have been reopened.
TXDOT says minor damage was done to the columns and beams. A bridge engineer determined that the stretch of interstate could be reopened after the vertical clearance signs are replaces, asphalt is restriped and the debris is removed.
Abilene Police issued an update about an hour earlier.
According to the report, a crash involving a semi tractor-trailer was reported just before 8:00 a.m., at mile marker 286 heading east on I-20.
The caller reported the truck to have veered into the center median and hit a pillar head-on at FM 600.
First responders arrived to the 18-wheeler in flames at the underpass.
The driver and passenger of the truck were unable to escape and both died in the crash.
Police said no other vehicles were involved in the crash.
That stretch of the interstate will remain closed until engineers with the Texas Department of Transportation can confirm that the bridge is safe to travel.
Abilene police say the investigation will continue.
ORIGINAL REPORT
Abilene Police confirmed to KTAB/KRBC that the driver of the semi truck, and their passenger, were killed when they ran into the structure of an underpass.
The crash took place on I-20, near Exit 286A heading west.
The Abilene Fire Department went out to assess damages and extinguish a fire caused by the crash, and crews will be assessing structural damage made to the underpass.
Police said traffic will be affected on both sides of I-20, as debris was scattered all over, and traffic is being rerouted to access roads.
Crews assessing damage said drivers should expect delays over the next several hours, and no traffic is being allowed on the bridge.
This is a developing story. KTAB/KRBC will update as new information becomes available.
