February was a rough month for many Texans. Before most of the state suffered from power outages and water shortages due to cold weather and ice, icy roads caused a massive pileup accident in Fort Worth on Feb. 11. More than 130 vehicles were involved and six people died in the early-morning pileup on Interstate 35.
Cars collide in Fort Worth I-35 pileup
Reports of the large-scale vehicle accident began at 6 a.m., when a couple of vehicles apparently lost traction on black ice. Other vehicles piled up behind those. Several vehicles became crushed in the huge pileup. At least three semi-trailer trucks were involved in crash, which closed all northbound traffic on I-35 for hours. It also took rescue crews hours to remove people from their vehicles and transport those injured to area hospitals.
Part of the reason so many vehicles were involved in the accident is that this stretch of I-35 is a toll road, cordoned off by barriers. There’s no way for a driver to escape the traffic lanes once they have entered them. Commuters often pay to use this toll section of I-35 to avoid other freeway traffic.
The aftermath of the massive crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) now will investigate the snow and ice treatment procedures used on that tollway stretch of I-35. Reportedly, road crews had been spot treating I-35 for ice that day, but they may not of de-iced the area where the pileup began.
How pileups occur
Pileup accidents often occur because of road conditions, ranging from ice and snow on the road to drivers’ visibility being limited by fog or rain. Sometimes, pileups begin because one driver is following another vehicle too closely in heavy traffic. If the driver hits the vehicle in front of them, a pileup can happen. Other factors that can cause pileups include:
- Drivers speeding too fast for road conditions
- Distracted drivers
- Drowsy drivers
- Drivers reacting too late to road construction lane closures or detours
If you are involved in a pileup accident or see one occur, you can report the accident to 911. If you are injured in a pileup crash, you may need to consult a personal injury attorney. You want to ensure you receive proper compensation for your injury costs so you can focus on your recovery.