Truck Crashes Lead To Periodic Closures Of Interstate 20 In Odessa
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: January 9, 2013
ODESSA -- A series of crashes led to periodic closures of Interstate 20 in Odessa Wednesday.
Odessa Police say the trouble started around 6:35 AM Wednesday at Interstate 20 and Grant Avenue (U.S. 385).
Officers say that a 2009 Kenworth 18-wheeler was heading east on Interstate 20 when the trailer started to slide near the Grant Street overpass.
The driver tried to stop the swerve, but he lost control of the vehicle.
The vehicle skidded off the roadway onto the median, hit a guardrail and skidded onto the north embankment -- causing the truck cab to roll onto its side.
While traffic was still slowed due to the crash at 8:15 AM Wednesday, another wreck took place.
Police say that a 2001 Freightliner truck came up too fast on vehicles ahead of it in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 -- which were slowing down due to the first accident -- at Grandview Avenue.
The truck driver broke hard to avoid rear-ending vehicles ahead of the big rig.
However, truck jackknifed and blocked both westbound lanes of Interstate 20.
Police closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 at J.B.S. Parkway as they worked to clean up both wrecks.
The highway eventually re-opened, but more mayhem ensued.
A red car that was in the shoulder of Interstate 20 at Grant Avenue pulled into the westbound lanes of interstate 20 in front of an 18-wheeler around 2:15 PM Wednesday.
The 18-wheeler jackknifed and hit the guardrail when it tried to slow down to avoid hitting the car.
As crews were responding to the crash, another 18-wheeler crashed in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 at Grandview avenue around 2:30 PM Wednesday.
Odessa Police closed Interstate 20 for a second time Wednesday afternoon, as crews cleared the roadway.
The highway re-opened around 3:30 PM Wednesday.
No injuries were reported in any of the crashes.
Odessa Police say the trouble started around 6:35 AM Wednesday at Interstate 20 and Grant Avenue (U.S. 385).
Officers say that a 2009 Kenworth 18-wheeler was heading east on Interstate 20 when the trailer started to slide near the Grant Street overpass.
The driver tried to stop the swerve, but he lost control of the vehicle.
The vehicle skidded off the roadway onto the median, hit a guardrail and skidded onto the north embankment -- causing the truck cab to roll onto its side.
While traffic was still slowed due to the crash at 8:15 AM Wednesday, another wreck took place.
Police say that a 2001 Freightliner truck came up too fast on vehicles ahead of it in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 -- which were slowing down due to the first accident -- at Grandview Avenue.
The truck driver broke hard to avoid rear-ending vehicles ahead of the big rig.
However, truck jackknifed and blocked both westbound lanes of Interstate 20.
Police closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 at J.B.S. Parkway as they worked to clean up both wrecks.
The highway eventually re-opened, but more mayhem ensued.
A red car that was in the shoulder of Interstate 20 at Grant Avenue pulled into the westbound lanes of interstate 20 in front of an 18-wheeler around 2:15 PM Wednesday.
The 18-wheeler jackknifed and hit the guardrail when it tried to slow down to avoid hitting the car.
As crews were responding to the crash, another 18-wheeler crashed in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 at Grandview avenue around 2:30 PM Wednesday.
Odessa Police closed Interstate 20 for a second time Wednesday afternoon, as crews cleared the roadway.
The highway re-opened around 3:30 PM Wednesday.
No injuries were reported in any of the crashes.
