Update: 1 dead, 1 injured after truck slams into sign at I-40 and Western
Kristina WoodThis story has been updated with additional information.
The Amarillo Police Department said Wednesday evening that one person was killed and another critically injured in a two-vehicle accident earlier in the day at eastbound Interstate 40 and Western, where one of the vehicles slammed head-on into a restaurant sign.
APD said Amarillo officers went to the scene of a major traffic collision at approximately 3:36 p.m. in the 3700 block of I-40 west. Upon arrival, officers discovered a wreck that involved two vehicles, a trailer, and a fixed object.
According to a preliminary investigation, an older Toyota Tundra pulling a 12' U-Haul trailer, driven by a 50-year-old man from Fountain Hills, Arizona, was heading eastbound on I-40 going over the Western Street overpass. At that time, the driver of the Toyota lost control of the vehicle and rear ended a 2017 BMW X3, driven by a 28-year-old woman from Amarillo.
Police said the impact caused the BMW to careen into the center cement divider for I-40. The BMW eventually came to stop in the grassy median separating I-40 proper from the south frontage road.
After the Tundra struck the BMW, it crossed I-40, the grassy median, and the south frontage road, and then it slammed head on into a Rudy's BBQ Sign.
The driver of the Tundra was taken to a local area hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was not yet identified.
A passenger in the Tundra, identified as Julia Grubb, 58, also from Fountain Hills, Arizona, died as a result of injuries she received in the collision. The Justice of the Peace Robert Taylor has ordered an autopsy.
The driver of the BMW was not injured.
APD said the collision disrupted traffic in the area for quite some time, having issued a traffic advisory around 4:15 p.m. alerting the public to avoid the area while officers worked at the scene.
According to police, speed is a primary factor in the crash, and the incident is being investigated by APD's Traffic Investigation Squad.
This is a developing story; more information will be added as it becomes available.