2 killed, dozens injured in massive Texas pileup

Thursday, November 22, 2012

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Two people died and more than 80 people were hurt Thursday when at least 140 vehicles collided in Southeast Texas in a pileup that left trucks twisted on top of each other and authorities rushing to pull survivors from the wreckage.

The collision occurred in extremely foggy conditions at about 8:45 a.m. Thanksgiving Day on Interstate 10 southwest of Beaumont, a Gulf Coast city about 80 miles east of Houston.

A man and a woman were killed in a Chevy Suburban SUV crushed by a tractor trailer, the Texas Department of Public Safety told KFDM-TV.

Jefferson County sheriff's Deputy Rod Carroll said in a news release that 80 to 90 people were transported to hospitals with 10 to 12 of those in serious to critical condition. He said 140 to 150 vehicles were involved in the pileup.

According to DPS, a crash on the eastbound side of the highway led to other accidents in a dangerous chain reaction. There were multiple crashes on the other side of the highway as well.

Carroll told The Associated Press the fog was so thick that deputies didn't immediately realize they were dealing with multiple accidents.

"It is catastrophic," Carroll said. "I've got cars on top of cars."

I-10's eastbound lanes were re-opened Thursday evening after more than eight hours.

Carroll said uninjured drivers tried to help as authorities sorted through the wreckage.

"It's just people helping people," Carroll said. "The foremost thing in this holiday season is how other travelers were helping us when we were overwhelmed, sitting and holding, putting pressure on people that were injured."

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Hugs 6 months, 4 weeks ago

I cannot hardly believe that there so many stupid people on the road these days. When there is fog on the roadway & you cannot see the road the first thing you are supposed to do is to pull off the road & wait it out on the shoulder. But there are to many people these days that just think they can just drive threw it till the road is clear again. Dumb, Dumb, dumb.

Paroquet 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Hugs,

That is not at all safe. Turn on your flashers, reduce your speed slowly, and don't outrun your headlights. Too many folks get turned into road pizza each year, pulling off in storms and fog, only to get smacked by someone coming up behind who can't see the lines either, or worse, think that they're in the lane when they see your headlights--by then it's too late.

John 6 months, 3 weeks ago

And that is exactly how the accident happened. People slowed down on the roadway instead of pulling off the road onto the shoulder.

Yep, I just happened to be there when and where the acccidents happened. "... outdrive your headlights." You obviously know nothing about thick fog or you would know that your headlights will NOT penetrate it and in many (most) cases you will experience the same thing you do in snow, the headlights will actually make it more difficult to see.

You pull over on the shoulder, stop, turn on emergency blinkers and leave your headlights on

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