Published: October 02, 2009 09:22 am      

Two wrecks snarl I-20 Thursday

Crystal Brown

cbrown@weatherforddemocrat.com

Two major semi-truck accidents Thursday shut down portions of Interstate-20 for hours and sent numerous drivers and passengers to area hospitals.

Around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, a semi-truck traveling eastbound near the 408 exit of I-20 veered out the eastbound lanes and crossed through the cables into westbound traffic, according to Cpl. Wendy Field of the Weatherford Police Department.

“When the vehicle veered out of its lanes, it caused another vehicle that was right beside it to do the same,” Field said. “Once the semi-truck and SUV entered the westbound lanes of traffic, five other vehicles collided into them.”

Ten people were transported to area hospitals including one to Cook Children’s Hospital, four to Harris – Downtown, two to John Peter Smith and three to Weatherford Regional Medical Center.

As of Thursday evening, the victims have all been reported to be in stable condition.

The Weatherford Police Department was assisted by Weatherford Fire Department, Hudson Oaks Police Department, Willow Park Police Department, Willow Park Fire Department, Parker County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department.

Another accident happened in the early morning hours Thursday, when a missed entrance to the I-20 on-ramp led to a three-vehicle accident, shutting down the highway for more than six hours and leaving one person in critical condition.

Lauren Vitale, 18, of Fort Worth, was driving west-bound on the north frontage road of I-20 at the Brock exit at approximately 1:12 a.m. when she missed the on ramp, went up the side of the road in the grass and out in front of a semi truck traveling on the Interstate, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Gary Rozzell said.

Rozzell said the truck driver, Joshua Pottker, 31, of Fort Worth, tried to avoid hitting Vitale, but the left rear of her car struck the front right steering tire of the large truck. Rozzell said the impact sent Pottker’s truck, a 2002 Kenworth, across the median and into oncoming traffic.

There is no cable strung between oncoming lanes on the Interstate in this portion of Parker County to prevent traffic from crossing the median.

As Pottker’s truck crossed into oncoming traffic, he came into contact with a 2005 Freightliner driven by Pascal Rincones Cisneros Jr., 54, of Lorenzo.

“Pottker’s vehicle fell over on the side and came to rest at that point,” Rozzell said. “Cisneros continued down the highway for a distance and came to a rest with major damage to the truck tractor.

Cisneros was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth and is currently listed in critical condition. Rozzell said troopers who worked the scene, Gene Hansen and Ty McLaughlin, originally reported him as deceased, but the family has elected not to take him off life support as of Thursday afternoon.

Pottker was transported to Weatherford Regional Medical Center and later released.

Rozzell said the accident is under investigation and Vitale does not face any charges at this time. She was not reported to have any injuries.