Texas Accident Victims - News You Can Use

Two People Killed in Accident Involving Five 18-Wheelers

Two people were killed when their car was hit by a tractor-trailer rig in Tyler, Texas.  The car was stopped on the interstate to avoid hitting an overturned 18-wheeler when another tractor-trailer hit it from behind.  The fiery crash closed Interstate 20 for approximately 12 hours, according to authorities on Tuesday, September 20, 2008. 

Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tele Mange said that after the tractor-trailer rig hit the car, it plowed into three other 18-wheelers and caught fire at around 11:30 PM on Monday. 

A preliminary report by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows that the driver of the 18-wheeler may have dozed off, which caused him to hit a guardrail and roll over.  His 18-wheeler ended up catching fire.

The wreckage was not cleared until Tuesday and the lanes were not open on Interstate 20 until then.  Eastbound traffic was re-routed down 69, to North Loop 323 and back up 271.

Edward Corbet Koponen, a 39-year-old man from Longview and Edward Carroll Fielder, a 49-year-old man from Maydelle, were riding together in the car at the time of the accident.  Both men were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.  Fielder was wearing his seatbelt, by Koponen was not.

Theodore Burton of Muskogee, Oklahoma was driving the tractor-trailer rig.  He was traveling eastbound when his rig hit Koponen’s car.  Burton was taken to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.  His condition and injuries were not made available to the public.

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