A devastating 17-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 in North Austin, Texas, late Thursday night has left five people dead and 11 others injured, marking one of the worst multi-car pileups in the city’s history. The tragic collision occurred around 11:30 p.m. near the 12,900 block of North I-35 southbound, prompting a massive emergency response.
Among the five confirmed fatalities were three adults, one child, and one infant. Emergency responders found multiple victims trapped in their vehicles, requiring extensive extrication efforts by firefighters.
NEW: A CBS Austin viewer shared cell phone video that showed debris strewn across I-35 following a deadly crash involving 17 vehicles late Thursday night.
Details: https://t.co/rcMAJqyqPI pic.twitter.com/Y27PYugfCA
Of the 11 injured, six individuals—including five adults and one child—were rushed to area hospitals with potentially life-threatening injuries. The other five sustained less severe injuries, but their conditions have not been publicly disclosed.
1/2 #ATXTrafficFatality FINAL Vehicle Rescue on N Ih 35: 17 patients & 17 vehicles involved.
5 patients (3 adults, 1 child, 1 infant) have been pronounced deceased on scene.#ATCEMSMedics transported 11 patients:
2 adults to St. David’s Round Rock w/life threatening injuries.
Austin-Travis County EMS, the Austin Fire Department, and the Austin Police Department arrived on the scene within minutes of the collision. Captain Christa Stedman of Austin-Travis County EMS described the scene as “incredibly chaotic,” with debris, damaged vehicles, and injured individuals scattered across a tenth of a mile stretch of highway.
Despite the complexity of the rescue operation, EMS crews managed to evacuate all critical patients within 40 minutes. The severity of the wreckage and entrapment of victims made the response particularly challenging.
Here's a look at the scene of the fatal crash on I-35 where five people died and 11 others were injured.
MORE: https://t.co/R4yv5IJ5px pic.twitter.com/OSBZtnclSf
The massive crash forced authorities to shut down all southbound lanes of I-35 for several hours, leading to significant traffic disruptions. Officials urged drivers to seek alternate routes as investigators and cleanup crews worked through the night.
The Austin Police Department’s vehicular homicide unit has launched a full-scale investigation to determine what led to the deadly pileup. Initial reports suggest that weather conditions, speed, or reckless driving may have played a role, but authorities have yet to release official findings.