A fiery crash involving an 18-wheeler early Wednesday turned the southbound lanes of I-35E in Carrollton into a shutdown zone, with an explosion forcing authorities to close the highway at the President George Bush Turnpike. The wreck started around midnight and quickly bled into the morning rush, leaving drivers in the Carrollton-Plano corridor stuck in long delays.
The collision, which centered on an 18-wheeler, also led to closures on parts of the President George Bush Turnpike while crews worked the scene, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Residents were urged to stay away from the area and use alternate routes as emergency teams dealt with the wreckage and the aftermath of the explosion.
Emergency Response And What's Known
Lewisville and Carrollton police responded to the crash, and emergency signs went up as crews worked to secure the scene. The road was still closed as of 10:30 a.m., officials told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, and investigators had not released information on victims or a cause when the outlet published its report.
Why This Shutdown Hit So Hard
The President George Bush Turnpike funnels heavy commuter and commercial traffic onto I-35E, and ongoing maintenance and connector work in the area has already thinned out spare capacity, the City of Carrollton notes. With key turnpike ramps affected while crews cleared debris, detours quickly clogged nearby arterials and dragged down the morning commute.
What Drivers Should Know
Motorists are being advised to steer clear of the area until crews finish clearing the scene and investigators provide more clarity on what happened. Officials said they will update the public when lanes reopen and when additional details about the crash are available.
