News Update
S.H. 121 frontage road shut down after fiery accident
Photo courtesy of Andrea Gulledge: Large flames erupt from the cab of the 18-wheeler shortly after the accident.
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
PLANO -- A fiery two-vehicle accident shut down the northbound frontage road of State Highway 121 at Coit Road for several hours Thursday afternoon.
There were no fatalities, but both drivers involved in the accident were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment. Neither vehicle was carrying any other passengers.
Shortly before 1 p.m., an 18-wheeler carrying a full load of gravel was traveling southbound on Coit Road when it struck the passenger side of a Chevrolet Trailblazer driving northbound on the frontage road. The 18-wheeler then swerved and lost control before striking an electrical pole, said Officer David Tilley of the Plano Police Department.
Tilley said the cab of the truck caught fire, but the driver was able to escape under his own power. He was taken via CareFlite to Parkland Hospital, where was treated for burns and serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Trailblazer was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, Tilley said, adding that things could have been much worse if the driver's side door of the vehicle was struck.
"We have not determined whose fault the accident was, but it is pretty clear that someone ran a red light," Tilley said. "This is a pretty busy intersection, so there were likely a lot of witnesses to the accident. Some people stopped, but others left the scene. We are asking those people to come forward and tell us what they saw."
Plano firefighters responded quickly and were able to extinguish the fire shortly after it started, Tilley said. With the fire out, crews from CoServ Electric worked to secure the damaged electrical pole so the truck and its trailer could be safely moved.
Anyone would information on the accident should call the Plano Police Department Traffic Unit at 972-208-8055.
There were no fatalities, but both drivers involved in the accident were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment. Neither vehicle was carrying any other passengers.
Shortly before 1 p.m., an 18-wheeler carrying a full load of gravel was traveling southbound on Coit Road when it struck the passenger side of a Chevrolet Trailblazer driving northbound on the frontage road. The 18-wheeler then swerved and lost control before striking an electrical pole, said Officer David Tilley of the Plano Police Department.
Tilley said the cab of the truck caught fire, but the driver was able to escape under his own power. He was taken via CareFlite to Parkland Hospital, where was treated for burns and serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Trailblazer was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, Tilley said, adding that things could have been much worse if the driver's side door of the vehicle was struck.
"We have not determined whose fault the accident was, but it is pretty clear that someone ran a red light," Tilley said. "This is a pretty busy intersection, so there were likely a lot of witnesses to the accident. Some people stopped, but others left the scene. We are asking those people to come forward and tell us what they saw."
Plano firefighters responded quickly and were able to extinguish the fire shortly after it started, Tilley said. With the fire out, crews from CoServ Electric worked to secure the damaged electrical pole so the truck and its trailer could be safely moved.
Anyone would information on the accident should call the Plano Police Department Traffic Unit at 972-208-8055.
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