Three 18-Wheelers Collide on the Interstate in Jefferson County
Published 12:55 pm Monday, December 7, 2015
At approximately 11:14pm, on Sunday night, there was a three (3) vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near Major Drive. The crash involved three truck tractor semi-trailers.
A Kenworth truck tractor semi-trailer was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 near Major Drive. As the truck tractor semi-trailer slowed down for the construction area, it was rear-ended by an International truck tractor semi-trailer. A third 18-wheeler was traveling at an unsafe speed and had to take evasive action to avoid striking the other vehicles. The driver of the third truck tractor semi-trailer veered to the right causing the vehicle to land on its side. The third 18-wheeler did not strike any other vehicles.
The driver of the Kenworth, Onofre Salinas (40) of San Juan, Texas, was not injured in the crash. The driver of the International truck tractor, Robert Burton (58) of Lumberton, Texas, did not sustain any injuries. The driver of the third 18-wheeler, Ernest Mendez (42) of San Juan, Texas, and his five passengers were all transported to St. Elizabeth hospital with minor injuries.
Burton was issued a traffic citation for Failure to Control Speed. Mendez was issued a traffic citation for Unsafe Speed.
At this time, Troopers have left the scene and DPS cannot confirm if the eastbound lanes of the Interstate have reopened.