I-35 moving again after deadly wreck

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - A chain-reaction wreck on Interstate 35 Friday morning left one person dead and turned the vital commuter highway heading south to Austin into a miles-long parking lot.

• Photos: Deadly wreck snarls I-35 in Round Rock

The wreck was reported around 3:30 a.m. between FM 1431 and FM 3406 and crews were still on the scene for than four hours later. By about 8:15 a.m., the southbound lanes were reopened and traffic was moving slowly toward the city.

The extended morning snarl stemmed from a wreck involving at least three vehicles.

Police said a car in the far right lane clipped the back of a trailer attached to a pickup truck. The car then veered into the center lane and was struck by a semitrailer.

The driver of the car died, but the drivers of the pickup and semi are expected to survive. Both had minor injuries.

Damian Hendricks, who was driving on the northbound side of the interstate, reported seeing several cars involved -- including a car stuck under an 18-wheeler. He said debris was scattered across the road. 

He guessed traffic was backed up about a mile behind the wrecks, with drivers standing outside their parked cars.

Carver did not have an estimate on how long the highway will be closed on the main lanes between FM 1431 and 3406 but said drivers should expect delays for much of the morning rush hour.

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Alternate route

All traffic heading south was being diverted off the main lanes at Westinghouse Road, where Round Rock police are telling drivers to take the frontage road further south before then getting back on the interstate.

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate and are working to find out what might have initially caused the car to lose control. There is no word yet if wet roads are to blame or whether there were any passengers in any of the three cars.