South Austin, TX —One person is confirmed dead following a tractor-trailer fire on Interstate 35 in South Austin. First responders say it happened just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday, September 17, 2022, in the 6500 block of Interstate 35. Crews said the 18-wheeler was fully engulfed when they arrived on the scene, after reportedly crashing into a pole in the northbound lanes just north of William Cannon Drive.
The Austin Fire Department tweeted just after 9:05 p.m. on Saturday night that crews were working an 18-wheeler fire on northbound I-35 in South Austin. AFD said that all lanes of I-35 and the frontage road were closed to traffic. Austin-Travis County EMS tweeted just before 9:30 p.m. that one person was pronounced dead at the scene in connection to the incident. After 11 p.m., TxDOT tweeted an update that all southbound lanes at I-35 and William Cannon were re-opened. However, drivers in the area are asked to stay clear and watch for first responders working the scene.
Additional Information Must Be Gathered to Determine Responsibility for the Accident
There isn't much preliminary information regarding this tragic accident and the investigation is ongoing. Due to the complex nature of this fiery crash, an independent investigation will likely be necessary to fully assess the cause of the accident. When a person is killed in a traffic accident, conclusions about what happened should be reserved until after all of the facts surrounding the occurrence are revealed. It is important to recognize that many accidents have contributing factors that are not immediately apparent and often go undetected in an official investigation. For instance, this man's death may have been caused by faulty equipment or a mechanical failure within the truck itself. These causes are difficult to identify and require the help of trained experts. As such, it is often wise to consult an attorney following a fatal accident to determine if any remedies are available under the law that can ease the financial burden caused by an unexpected passing. Additionally, holding wrongdoers accountable for their actions is the surest way to protect other motorists from similar accidents in the future.
A man is now dead, and his family is left to pick up the pieces. If negligence was a contributing factor in his death, this man’s family deserves to know about it so that they may seek compensation for their tragic loss.
