On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at approximately 12:57 p.m., Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers were providing traffic control along with the West Fire Department for a vehicle fire on northbound IH-35 near mile marker 354 in West.
The inside lane was shut down with traffic control devices, a fire truck, and two DPS patrol units. A Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer traveling on the inside lane disregarded the traffic control devices and struck the fire truck and two patrol units.
A West firefighter was struck by a vehicle during the crash. The firefighter was transported to Baylor Scott and White in critical condition and later pronounced deceased.
The two troopers were transported to the Baylor Scott and White in Waco to be treated for injuries sustained from the crash.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Northbound lanes of I35 are closed in this area.
The slow down or move over law requires drivers to move over a lane or slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when approaching emergency vehicles, law enforcement, tow trucks, utility service vehicles, TxDOT vehicles or other highway construction or maintenance vehicles using visual signals or flashing lights activated on the roadside. On roadways with posted speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less, drivers must reduce their speed to 5 miles per hour (Texas Transportation Code 545.157).
