Monday evening update:
The TxDOT district office in Bryan reports all lanes of SH 6 (southbound and northbound) are open. All lanes of the eastbound and westbound FM 158 bridge are open.
Monday afternoon update:
Bob Colwell with the TxDOT district office in Bryan says emergency repairs are underway. WTAW will be notified when southbound and westbound lanes are reopened, which Colwell says may not be until this evening.
Southbound freeway traffic was delayed further this afternoon following a multiple fender bender between the MLK/Old Reliance and WJB/Boonville exits.
Click below for comments from Bob Colwell, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver:
Sunday night update with continuing road closures:
Highway 6 northbound is now reopened for traffic. Please continue to use caution in the area.
Southbound lanes on Hwy 6 at Boonville/WJB will remain closed until tomorrow morning. TXDOT is repairing the Hwy 6 road surface damaged by the spools, and inspecting the overpass.
Westbound traffic on the WJB/Boonville overpass is now closed, which will also remain closed until tomorrow morning.
We anticipate west and south closures to remain in effect during morning rush hour. This will impact your morning commute. Feeder roads in this area will be heavily congested. Please use alternate routes, such as Texas and Briarcrest.
Northbound traffic on Hwy 6 and eastbound traffic on Boonville/WJB will not be closed.
News release from the Bryan police department:
On July 5, 2015, at 6:49 pm, Bryan Police Officers responded to the 900 block of North Earl Rudder Freeway (NERF) for a major accident. The following vehicles were involved:
Semi-truck hauling flatbed trailer with large spools of heavy gauge wire. Each spool was estimated at 20 to 21 thousand pounds. One occupant (driver) not injured. No damage to tractor or trailer.
White Jeep Cherokee with one female occupant (driver). Driver was a 60 year old white female resident of Bryan. She was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital by Bryan Fire Department ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. The Jeep had heavy vehicle damage, concentrated on passenger side, roof and hood.
Gray Toyota Sienna Minivan with five occupants. No injuries reported. Minor damages to front end and roof.
Series of Events:
All vehicles were travelling south on NERF, approaching the Boonville/William Joel Bryan overpass. The load on the trailer exceeded the 15 foot, 3 inch clearance requirement for the overpass. The spools struck the overpass, dislodging both spools from the trailer and pieces of concrete from the overpass. One spool made contact with the passenger side and top of the Jeep, the front end of the Toyota, and came to a rest in the north bound lanes for NERF. The other spool came to a rest in the center grass median. Pieces of concrete fell on top of the Toyota.
Hwy 6 is closed in both directions for scene safety until all vehicles and objects can be removed. Texas Department of Transportation responded to help with cleanup and inspection of the overpass. Texas DPS Troopers also responded to assist.
The driver of the semi-truck was cited for Exceeding Maximum Height Requirements