One person died and traffic in both directions were tied up along a major interstate in central Texas on Thursday after a tractor-trailer hit construction beams. The beams were being used to construct a bridge across Interstate 35 in Salado.

The accident caused debris to fall on the interstate. The beam that fell hit a pickup truck on the opposite direction. The unfortunate 32-year-old driver of the pickup truck, Clark Davis from Arlington, died, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, reports AP.

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Three other people were injured and brought to the hospital, said Trooper D.L. Wilson.

Besides the oversized 18-wheeler truck that has its cab damaged heavily, the accident also damaged two other rigs and two pickup trucks.

The interstate is a main route for both north- and south-bound vehicles through Texas, causing a long line of vehicles for miles on both directions as the interstate remained closed for hours.

Authorities detoured northbound and southbound traffic to Texas 195 and U.S. 190 through Killeen until the freeway reopened at 3:45 a.m. on Friday.

Even before the accident, road space was limited vis-à-vis vehicles since the place was going through heavy construction to expand it to three lanes for both directions. There are also constructions ongoing for overpasses, exits and other civil works.

Before dawn of Friday, Interstate 35 had fully reopened, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, reports AP.

According to the department, vertical clearance for FM 2484 bridge is 14 feet, ½ inch, which are written in three signs posted before the bridge. That meant vehicles must have a vertical clearance of 13 feet, 6 inches, which the department had informed the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles so trucks would secure proper permits to pass through the area or go through alternate routes.

Tagsvehicular accident, interstate, Texas