A severe rollover incident on U.S. Highway 287 in Wise County, Texas, on Wednesday morning killed four people and injured ten others, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Before 8 a.m., officials responded to a single-vehicle incident on northbound 287 near the Farm-to-Market Road 1655 exit in Alvord.
“The preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle left the roadway, the driver overcorrected, causing it to lose control, and the vehicle rolled over multiple times,” Texas DPS spokesperson Tony De La Cerda stated.
According to officials, 13 of the 14 occupants in the passenger vehicle were ejected during the incident. It was upsetting for many driving by, including Paige Caffrey, who became tearful as she recalled what she witnessed on her way to work at Allsups. “I observed several police cars, a fire truck, and an ambulance. “A helicopter had landed,” Caffrey stated. “Then I noticed the car accident.” It was quite terrible. “I saw a body.”
According to Wise County EMS, many ambulances, medical helicopters, as well as the Alvord police and fire departments, responded to the “mass casualty incident.”
According to Texas DPS officers, three persons were confirmed dead at the site, including the driver. Another passenger died in the hospital. Three persons in serious condition were transferred to nearby hospitals by air ambulance, while eight more were transported by ground ambulance. The victims have not been identified.
“There were multiple ejections, and 13 out of those 14 people received some type of injury, and of course, three were deceased,” De La Cerda told the media. “So just seeing all these 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 EMS arrives.”
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De La Cerda stated that only one of the 14 people in the van was wearing a seatbelt. That individual walked away from the accident and was treated at a local hospital as a precaution.
“Seat belts can save lives. That is something we highlight on every holiday, weekend, and day. Wearing your seat belt will save your life. On this occasion, just one individual was wearing a seat belt and was able to walk away, but was transported for precautionary reasons,” De La Cerda said.
No other injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved in the collision.
According to Texas DPS officers, the van came from Florida, but they don’t know where it’s heading or who owns it.
The road was stopped for many hours on Wednesday to examine the crash. The northbound lanes reopened to traffic on Wednesday afternoon.