UPDATE: Driver of 18-wheeler fell asleep, caused multi-fatal crash in Kaufman County, officials say
At approximately 2:40 p.m. Texas Highway Patrol Troopers were dispatched to a major crash at Interstate 20 westbound four miles east of Terrell.
Preliminary investigation indicates that traffic on I-20 was backed up due to a previous crash. The driver of a red semi-truck fell asleep behind the wheel and struck a pickup truck carrying five occupants.
That semi-truck was then pushed into two other semi-trucks. One of the semi-trucks jack-knifed as a result of the impact and struck three other vehicles.
There were five occupants in the pickup. One of the occupants was transported via CareFlite to a Dallas hospital with life-threatening injuries. Four others were pronounced deceased on scene. The occupant of one of the vehicles impacted by the jack-knifed 18-wheeler was also pronounced deceased on scene.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is currently available.
