NTSB: Failure to de-ice road preceded massive Texas crash

DALLAS — Federal officials say the company responsible for maintaining a Texas interstate where a massive chain-reaction pileup killed six people in 2021, failed to address the icy road conditions. The statement was released March 23, 2023 following a two-year NTSB investigation into the crash.

According to the report, the portion of Interstate 35 West in Fort Worth where the occurred was not treated with salt the morning of the Feb. 11, 2021 crash. The NTSB said that the failure of North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners Segment 3 to address the conditions contributed to the crash, as did drivers’ speeds.

The pileup involved a total of 130 vehicles, killed six people, and injured dozens more.

The NTSB said that the crash began when a vehicle struck the concrete barrier on the right side of the toll lanes. Other vehicles then began sliding, spinning and striking the barriers. Then a large truck crashed into some of those vehicles, and other vehicles that were unable to stop also became part of the massive crash that blocked all of the southbound toll lanes.

A spokesman for North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners Segment 3 did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press. The Texas Department of Transportation also did not immediately respond to the news agency’s request for comment.

When motor vehicle accidents are the result of the negligence of a private company or state agency to maintain a roadway, victims can often recover compensation for the injuries they have sustained.

Examples of poorly-maintained roads can include potholes, overgrown trees or plants, lack of visible signage, flooding due to poor drainage, debris or other obstructions, malfunctioning traffic signals, and burned-out street lights. There are many others as well.

Whether or not these hazards were caused by negligence is a fact-specific issue. Therefore, you should never assume that an accident is, or is not, legally actionable without first talking to an attorney.

You should also never assume that an accident was your fault. Every accident should be fully investigated, and you should never accept any settlement offer without first getting legal advice from your own qualified attorney.

At the J. Gonzalez Law Firm, that’s what we’re here for. We will take the time to listen to your side of the story, and if the situation merits, we will make sure your crash is fully investigated, keeping your rights and interests as the number one priority. Call us today for a no-risk consultation at 1-800-CAR-CRASH.

Source: https://www.krgv.com/news/ntsb-crews-failed-to-de-ice-road-before-massive-texas-crash