A catastrophic pile-up on Texas' SH 130 southbound toll road brought morning traffic to a standstill near Georgetown today. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office described the incident involving an out-of-control semi that struck several vehicles. The crash unfolded at the notorious S curve, leading to numerous cars careening off the road, according to FOX 7 Austin.
#ATCEMS has responded to 4 rollover collisions in about the last hour or so. Reminder: Slow Down! There is icing reported around the area. Remember, if you don't have to get on the road, don't.
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) January 15, 2024
(Current image from https://t.co/32HmHYm3Ae)#BeSafe #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/fA8UdzQity
The area between Interstate 35 and Chandler Road as now synonymous with the aftermath, including the plight of an 18-wheeler that slid to ultimately hammer multiple vehicles just south of Patriot Way, reported by KVUE.
Throughout the morning hours, local enforcement and emergency services were dedicated in their response to the chaos. Ice patches ostensibly littered throughout Round Rock, as per the local police, catalyzed several road mishaps. Austin-Travis County EMS were quick to respond to a quartet of rollovers that unfolded in rapid succession - a stark reminder of the treachery laid bare by the elements upon these vital veins of transportation, as per KVUE.
Criminal displays of ice on the toll road were not left unchecked, with Cedar Park police officers vigilantly responding to several crashes. The Texas Department of Transportation took measures to forcefully close SH 130 southbound at I-35 due to these harrowing conditions, a closure that extended to all lanes near Patriot Way after the calamitous chain-reaction crash. The City of Georgetown advised motorists to avoid SH 130, suggesting "southbound traffic should use I-35 rather than SH 130 at this time," underscoring the grave situation unfolding on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
