Chaos unfolded in far south Austin late Wednesday night when two 18-wheelers collided on the northbound lanes of I-35, causing road closures and a sprawling cleanup effort. According to a report by KXAN, the crash, which took place near Onion Creek Parkway, resulted in at least one lane being reopened Thursday morning as crews worked to manage the aftermath.
The accident, which happened about a half-mile north of Onion Creek Parkway, led to one person being evaluated by Austin-Travis County EMS paramedics. In the chaos, it was initially unclear how severe their injuries were, but crews were quick to respond to the emergency. The Austin Fire Department posted on the incident at 11:13 p.m. Wednesday indicated that a diesel spill added to the complications, prompting an intense cleanup effort according to CBS Austin.
AFD on scene with @ATCEMS and Austin PD with a collision involving 2 18-wheelers. One person was evaluated by EMS. I-35 NB will be shut down at the 10800 blk for potentially several hours. Avoid the area pic.twitter.com/BTHFRsDIOK
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) January 25, 2024
The resultant traffic snarl persisted into the early hours of Thursday, with Austin Police informing KXAN around 2 a.m. that crews were still addressing the diesel spill. The thoroughfare, a vital artery for Austin's commuters and commerce, witnessed substantial disruption while safety procedures and vehicle removal took precedence.
By 4 a.m., the heavy-duty vehicles involved had been removed from the scene, and Austin Police had departed, signaling a gradual return to normalcy on the interstate. The full extent of the damages or what caused the accident has not been disclosed yet, but the incident underscores the larger conversation around safety on our ever-busy highways. For drivers navigating the roads in the aftermath of such events, patience becomes more than a virtue—it is a necessity.
