LUBBOCK COUNTY, Texas (KCBD) – Highway 84 is now back open southeast of Slaton as first responders clear the scene of multiple accidents. The eastbound lanes of the highway were still shut down, as of Friday afternoon.
KCBD had a crew filming as a semi crashed into the pileup on Highway 84, hitting one DPS trooper and pinning another person inside a truck. Both people were taken for medical treatment and are expected to survive their injuries.
The semi turned over as it hit the pickup and the trailer swung around, hitting the trooper.
DPS tells us they initially responded to a two-vehicle crash on US 84, one mile east of Slaton, around 10:45 a.m.
The crash blocked westbound lanes of US 84. While troopers were investigating the crash, a semi traveling eastbound jackknifed and came to final rest in the center median.
Several other vehicles subsequently crashed into the back of the semi trailer.
A third semi was traveling eastbound approaching the scene when a red SUV changed lanes in front of it, causing the driver of the semi to jackknife and roll it over onto its side.Troopers on scene ran from the semi as it slid on the roadway into the barrow ditch.
A DPS Trooper was struck by the trailer as it slid to final rest. The trooper was transported to University Medical Center in Lubbock for injuries sustained during the collision.
Our camera crew was filming live as the semi slid down the roadway and came to rest right in front of them.
Another person involved in the crash was trapped inside his vehicle as the trailer came to rest on top of it.
First responders on scene were able to extricate the driver and he was transported to University Medical Center in Lubbock with serious injuries.
There were a total of five crashes involving four semi tractor-trailers and four smaller vehicles.
Seven units from the Lubbock Fire Department were on scene with 19 staff members. LFD sent its division chief, battalion chief, command assistant, three heavy rescue team units, an additional engine and aerial assistance. The driver of the pickup was extracted by a heavy rescue unit.
Dense fog remains in the area, creating hazardous driving conditions across the South Plains. The fog is expected to lift on Friday afternoon.
See video here: https://www.kcbd.com/2019/12/27/dps-trooper-injured-all-drivers-asked-avoid-highway-near-slaton/