On February 11, 2021, a catastrophic 130-vehicle pileup occurred on a Texas highway due to icy road conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the incident and concluded that the primary cause of the crash was the failure to de-ice the road.
The accident took place on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth, Texas, during a severe winter storm that brought freezing temperatures and snow to the area. The highway had not been treated with salt or other de-icing agents, despite the weather forecast predicting hazardous conditions.
The NTSB report found that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) did not have adequate procedures in place to monitor and respond to changing weather conditions. The agency relied on weather forecasts from the National Weather Service but did not have a system in place to verify the accuracy of those forecasts or to adjust their response accordingly.
Furthermore, TxDOT did not have enough equipment or personnel to effectively de-ice the roads. The agency had only 30 trucks available to cover more than 200 miles of highway, and many of those trucks were not equipped with the necessary de-icing materials.
The lack of de-icing led to a dangerous situation on the highway, with multiple crashes occurring as vehicles slid out of control on the icy surface. The pileup involved dozens of cars and trucks, resulting in six fatalities and dozens of injuries.
The NTSB report recommended several changes to prevent similar accidents in the future. These include improving communication and coordination between TxDOT and other agencies responsible for monitoring weather conditions, increasing the number of de-icing trucks and materials available, and implementing better training and procedures for responding to hazardous road conditions.
The Texas crash serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of proper road maintenance during winter weather. De-icing is a critical step in ensuring safe driving conditions, and failure to take this step can have devastating consequences. It is essential for transportation agencies to prioritize the safety of drivers and passengers by investing in adequate equipment, personnel, and procedures to maintain roads during hazardous weather conditions.
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