Four people have died and a further 10 have been injured after a passenger van veered into a Texas highway median before rolling over multiple times.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28 at around 8 a.m. local time, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash after the van, which was traveling northbound, veered off the U.S. Highway 287 in Alvord, spokesperson Tony De La Cerda said in a press conference, per WFAA.
14 people were in the Chevrolet Express 3500 van at the time of the crash, and three people, including the driver, were pronounced dead at the scene, De La Cerda said. A further person died in hospital, per the Associated Press.
Two of the passengers were critically injured, seven weren’t in critical condition, and one was treated for a minor injury, AP added.
In the press conference, De La Cerda confirmed only one person was wearing their seat belt out of the 14 people in the van.
“Every vehicle has a seat belt, and if you use that seat belt, it’s gonna save lives,” De La Cerda stated, per WFAA.
He added that officers “don’t know where they were headed to” in the vehicle, but they “do know they were coming from Florida.”
The DPS spokesperson confirmed of the accident, “Preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle left the roadway, the driver overcorrected, causing it to lose control of the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to roll over multiple times.”
“There was multiple ejections due to roll over,” De La Cerda said, reported WFAA.
The scene of the deadly rollover crash on Highway 287 in Texas.
CBS TEXAS/Youtube
In a press release shared on Facebook, Wise County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) confirmed three ambulances and three medical helicopters had “transported patients from the scene.”
“The cause of the accident and details are still under investigation,” the release added.
De La Cerda said in Wednesday’s press conference, “Just seeing all those people on the road, on the grass, that is very difficult because we have to be able to keep our composure and be able to treat every single one to the best of our ability until the EMS arrives,” WFAA added. He also confirmed an investigation was ongoing, per their report.
According to CBS News, U.S. 287 was shut for more than three hours following the crash. Alvord Fire Department confirmed on Facebook later on Wednesday that northbound lanes of the highway had since reopened.
Paige Caffrey, who was on her way to work when she saw the aftermath of the crash, said, per NBC News, “I saw a bunch of cop cars and the fire truck, the ambulance. There was a helicopter that was landed.”
“Then I saw the car accident. It was pretty awful. I saw a body,” Caffrey added.
