TWO CRITICALLY INJURED AFTER TANKER EXPLOSION ON HIGHWAY 290 IN LEE CO.
Two people were hospitalized with major injuries after a fiery crash involving a tanker Sunday morning along Highway 290 between Giddings and Ledbetter.
The accident happened shortly before 11 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 180.
DPS reports that a truck tractor carrying crude oil barrels was attempting to enter the eastbound lane on Highway 290 when it collided with an eastbound SUV, causing an explosion.
Two people in the SUV were critically injured and were transported to a medical facility in Austin for treatment.
Both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 290 between Giddings and Ledbetter were closed as first responders worked to clear the scene. Traffic was rerouted for several hours Sunday afternoon onto county roads.
In a social media post, Lee County EMS recognized all the other departments involved in the incident, including the Giddings Fire Department, South Lee County Fire Department, Lincoln Fire Department, Ledbetter Fire Department, Giddings Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, DPS and Fayette County EMS.
Oil tanker trucks pull out from that location all the time with no regard to the traffic on 290. Was bound to happen sooner or later. Surprised wasn’t sooner.