Overturned Semi Blocks I-35E With Spilled Pipes

Carrollton police worked for over 8 hours Tuesday to clear an overturned tractor-trailer that spilled its load of pipes on Interstate 35E.

The crash occurred at about 1:45 a.m. Tuesday and had both sides of I-35E, and the northbound service road between Belt Line Road and Sandy Lake Road, closed.

The southbound lanes were reopened at about 5:45 a.m., but the northbound lanes of the interstate were closed through rush hour. Two lanes northbound opened around 11:30 a.m., and the remaining lanes were scheduled to open by noon.

Police said a woman was driving her car northbound on I-35E when she was struck from behind by the 18-wheeler truck.

Carrollton police said her car spun around and came to rest on the shoulder of the freeway while the truck driver lost control of his rig and hit the wall separating the northbound lanes from the High Occupancy Vehicle lane.

The cab of the truck came to rest upside down within the HOV lane, while its load, including long sections of piping, spilled all over both sides of the freeway.

Both drivers were transported to a local hospital for treatment.  Police believe both will recover.

There are about 20 oil drill pipes that spilled onto the interstate. Each pipe weighs about 700 pounds.

"This is certainly something very unique and is making the cleanup very challenging. Each pipe is very heavy and we need to clear them up," said Carrollton police spokeswoman Nicole Rodriguez.

A 5-man crew worked to drag each pipe individually off the roadway and then heavy machinery lifted them up.

Contact Us