At least six people were killed and dozens injured in a pile-up of 133 vehicles in Texas, after a massive ice storm made roads dangerously slippery Thursday morning, authorities said.
The first crash occurred on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth at around 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday. Vehicles, including 18-wheelers and passenger cars, slid off the road and continued to collide with each other as the stack grew.
“The scene we’ve seen today is real, probably, unlike anything we’ve seen, and we pray to God that we’ll never see it again. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to anyone who is negative affected by this tragic incident, ”Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes told FOX 4 News.
First responders will work on the site of a fatal crash on I-35 near downtown Fort Worth on Thursday, February 11, 2021. Police say at least six people died and dozens injured in a massive crash involving 75 to 100 vehicles on icy Texas. interstate. (Amanda McCoy / Star-Telegram via AP)
A significant ice storm stretched across the South and Midwestern United States, covering Texas, the Ohio Valley, and the Appalachians as it continued into the mid-Atlantic Ocean.
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The rare icy conditions on the road meant that drivers were inadequately prepared, leading to a disastrous incident. Temperatures were in the 1920s at the time of the first crashes.
First responders will work on the site of a fatal crash on I-35 near downtown Fort Worth on Thursday, February 11, 2021. Police say at least six people died and dozens injured in a massive 75 to 100 vehicle crash on icy Texas. interstate. (Amanda McCoy / Star-Telegram via AP)
Local service Med Star transported at least 65 people for treatment in local hospitals, The Dallas Morning News reported.
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A large number of victims were health workers, who were reportedly wearing their work scarves and hospital badges.
Hypothermia became a major concern as rescue efforts continued. First responders found it difficult to reach potential victims because of the same icy conditions that caused the crash.
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Noakes said at least four police officers were injured in rescue efforts. The massive operation involved 26 fire vehicles, 80 police cars, and 13 ambulances in the half-mile crash zone.
Some lawmakers questioned whether the area had been salted or sanded before the crash, and some reports indicated that the roads had not been prepared.
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North Tarrant Express, a local agency that operates Interstate 35W, said maintenance workers had started pre-treating the lanes on Tuesday morning in anticipation of inclement weather.
“This tragedy deserves an immediate and thorough investigation,” tweeted State Representative Ramon Romero Jr .. “This bad weather was foreseeable and lives were lost because a private company failed to maintain the deal’s end.”
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Ramon said his office would open an investigation into the charges and work with the Texas Department of Transportation to find out the truth.