PRESS RELEASE — At approximately 4 p.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a report of a disabled truck tractor semi-trailer on Interstate 10, near mile marker 837, in Jefferson County.

Preliminary reports indicate that a passenger vehicle was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 followed by an 18-wheeler.  The passenger vehicle experienced a tire blowout and immediately slowed down in the inside traffic lane.  The driver of the 18-wheeler veered left to avoid colliding with the passenger vehicle and struck the cable barrier.  After striking the cable barrier, the 18-wheeler became disabled in the roadway.

There are no reported injuries.

At this time, all eastbound traffic lanes of Interstate 10, near mile marker 837, are closed.  The roadway will remain closed until the wrecked 18-wheeler can be safely removed from the roadway.

Motorists are urged to find an alternate travel route.  Motorists traveling eastbound from the Winnie area are encouraged to use Hamshire Road and Highway 73 as alternate travel routes.

Westbound motorists are urged to drive defensively and avoid slowing down to look at the crash in the eastbound traffic lanes.