Cause of Dallas Vehicle Accident Still Under Investigation

If you were trying to enter or leave west Dallas on I-30 early this morning, you probably found yourself caught in the mayhem of clean up crews trying to reclaim over 8,500 gallons of fuel spilled across the highway. A fuel tanker, traveling eastbound on I-30, reportedly crashed into a concrete HOV lane divider and caught fire. Dallas News reports two more vehicles were involved in the truck accident, and at least three people were admitted to Methodist Dallas Medical Center – none with life-threatening injuries. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

A reader of the Dallas News left this comment on their blog:

I thought that the large trucks were restricted on using those far left lanes. How did this one crash into the retainer wall unless it was using that far left lane?

It’s a good question! As any Texas truck accident lawyer knows, commercial vehicles are subject to higher regulation – their size and (sometimes) hazardous cargo pose greater risk to Dallas commuters. Most drivers – be they driving a sedan or a semi – adhere to the “left lane for passing” mantra. It’s a good rule of thumb that promotes general road safety and welfare.

There are many possibilities why the fuel tanker crashed into the retainer wall – one being that it was trying to pass other vehicles and lost control. Driver fatigue could be another one. There is room for speculation, but none of it should be considered conclusive. We’ll leave final judgment in the capable hands of Dallas transportation authorities to determine cause and responsibility. For now, let’s just be thankful no one was killed.

Drive safe, Dallas!