Tragedy struck early Tuesday morning in Far Comal County just south of Blanco when a mass collision involving multiple vehicles shut down U.S. Highway 281 near Farm-to-Market 473, according to FOX San Antonio. Emergency services rapidly responded to the scene with multiple medical helicopters dispatched to assist the injured.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that the incident was the result of a Chevrolet Camaro veering into the northbound lane and colliding with a Toyota Highlander and the Honda Accord trailing it. The driver of the Camaro tragically lost his life in the impact while several other individuals, including two men, one woman, and three juveniles were airlifted to hospitals with injuries, as reported by KSAT.

The circumstances that led to the Camaro driver's fatal deviation from his lane remain unclear, as authorities continue to investigate the incident. Traffic in the vicinity of the crash was heavily affected, with authorities predicting prolonged road closures to facilitate clean-up operations and the ongoing investigation.

Local officials have been working with first responders to manage the crisis, ensure timely medical care for the victims, and restore normalcy for travelers impacted by the highway closure.