LUBBOCK, Texas — On Friday afternoon, multiple officials responded to multiple crashes on US Highway 84 just east of Slaton, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Public Safety.
Related story: Multiple officials respond to 2-vehicle crash with 2 semi-tractor trailers near Slaton
As troopers were on the scene investigating one accident, multiple vehicles piled up injuring a DPS trooper and trapping one person underneath a vehicle, according to DPS.
The trooper was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, but was expected to be okay.
Officials freed one person that was trapped under the vehicle. The injuries of that individual were unknown but the victim was conscious and transported to the hospital, according to DPS.
DPS is asking drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
DPS released this statement later in the day:
At approximately 10:45AM, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to a two vehicle crash on US 84, 1 mile East of Slaton, in Lubbock County. The crash blocked west bounds lanes of US 84. While investigating the crash, a truck tractor semi-trailer traveling eastbound jackknifed and came to final rest in the center median of US 84. Several other vehicles subsequently crashed into the back of the truck tractor semi-trailer. A third truck tractor semi-trailer was traveling eastbound approaching the scene, when a red SUV lane changed in front of the truck tractor semi-trailer, causing the driver of the truck tractor semi-trailer to jackknife and rolled over onto its side. Troopers on scene ran from the truck tractor semi-trailer as it slid on the roadway and into the barrow ditch.
A DPS Trooper was struck by the trailer as it slid to final rest. The trooper was transported to University Medical Center in Lubbock for injuries sustained during the collision. A subject involved in the crash was also trapped inside of his vehicle as the trailer came to rest on top of his vehicle. First responders on scene were able to extricate the driver and he was transported to University Medical Center in Lubbock for his injuries.
