A multi-vehicle wreck caused havoc near Austin airport on Wednesday, sending one to the hospital and triggering substantial traffic delays. KXAN reports that around 2:24 p.m., a crash involving four vehicles took place on East State Highway 71 near U.S. 183 with two of the cars rolling over in the incident.
Authorities were quick to respond, and Austin-Travis County EMS managed to evaluate four individuals at the scene. As per their social media update, only one person was required to be transported to Seton Hays County with injuries deemed not to be serious. The traffic around Austin-Bergstrom International Airport suffered as officials indicated on their social media post to expect "heavy traffic delays in both directions" on Highway 71. Despite the rapid action, congestion snaked along the highway for hours.
Vehicle Rescue 1600-1826 E Sh 71 Eb (14:24 x-street 183) Reported 4-vehicles involved, 2 rolled over, 1 patient reported pinned. Avoid the area & expect #ATXTraffic delays. #MoveOverSlowDown when in the area. More information to follow. pic.twitter.com/BGZ3W0V3Rl
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) March 27, 2024
The road was eventually cleared around 7 p.m., as mentioned by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority on their social media platforms. Meanwhile, CBS Austin confirmed that Highway 71 was fully open in both directions post-collision by 3:19 p.m.
Details concerning the cause of the accident have yet to be disclosed as investigations are still ongoing. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials issued a warning to passengers to prepare for traffic disruptions. This incident is a developing news story, and more information is expected to emerge as investigators continue to look into the factors that contributed to the crash.
