Waxahachie officials advise drivers to avoid U.S. 287 and Hwy 77 due to an accident.
WAXAHACHIE, Texas — The City of Waxahachie is urging drivers to avoid the area of U.S. Highway 287 and Highway 77 Thursday due to an accident that prompted a significant emergency response.
According to a Facebook post from the city, hazmat and emergency responders are on the scene to clean up a fuel spill, and the road closures on U.S. 287 and Highway 77 will remain in place “well into the evening.” Drivers are asked to plan alternate routes.
The city confirmed to WFAA that at around 2:50 p.m., a semi-truck carrying a cattle trailer sustained a blowout, causing the truck to go between two bridges and hit an embankment. According to the city, the trailer was carrying 20 bulls and 32 calves.
Most of the herd that the truck was hauling, the city said, has been loaded and taken out of the area.
“A veterinarian is on the scene providing care to the animals that remain,” the city said. “This work will continue until all of the animals have been transported.”
Chopper footage of the scene showed the truck facing perpendicular to traffic across the roadway — it appeared to have smashed into a concrete barrier off the shoulder of the highway.
According to the city, the driver of the semi-truck is in stable condition and no other injuries were reported.
This is a developing story. WFAA will update this article with the latest information.
